ACORN supervisor says cash bonuses given

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A Las Vegas organizer for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now says he gave cash bonuses to canvassers who met voter registration goals.

Christopher Edwards, field director of ACORN's Las Vegas chapter, testified at a court hearing Tuesday that he offered $5 "blackjack bonuses" to poorly paid canvassers last year if they handed in 21 or more registration cards in a day -- an arrangement that violates Nevada law, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Edwards was testifying during a hearing called to determine if enough evidence exists to try his former ACORN supervisor, Amy Busefink, on 13 felony charges of compensation for registration of voters, the newspaper said.

State prosecutors contend the "blackjack bonus" scheme is illegal because it encourages false registrations. The Times said Edwards, a former union organizer who had worked in the past for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts.

"No one in ACORN knew this was illegal," Edwards reportedly told Justice of the Peace William Jansen.