Democrats Aghast Forrester’s Company Saves Taxpayers Money

The Newsday article begins:

After weeks of being dogged by allegations of ethical misdeeds by the Republican candidate for governor, Democrats fired back Monday with charges that Douglas Forrester's candidacy is a thinly veiled infomercial for his successful prescription drug management firm.

Speaking of informercials when do the Forrester for Governor ads start airing? Back to Doug Forrester's business, didn't anyone tell the Democrats that Forrester's company BeneCard saves companies and government entities money on prescription drugs for employees? Perhaps the concept of saving money is too novel for Jon Corzine to understand. Forrester's company actually provides services that benefit people and saves taxpayer dollars.

The ethical clouds swirling around Senator Corzine must be catching up to him because now he's grasping at straws:

"This guy [Forrester] on the campaign trail is essentially using his run for office as a marketing tool to sell Benecard," said Pallone, the Long Branch Democrat hoping to finish Corzine's U.S. Senate term if Corzine is elected governor. "As he goes around and promotes himself as a candidate _ then (in 2002) for Senate or now for governor _ he has the opportunity to make himself known, make Benecard well-known, and essentially his campaign becomes a marketing tool to sell Benecard."

Pallone cited instances in which Forrester contributed to a political campaign in a town or county where his company was contracted to manage drug benefits.

No word from the Corzine camp why business and government bodies in states other than New Jersey elect to purchase Forrester's BeneCard services. As far as government contracts for BeneCard in New Jersey, maybe Senator Corzine can ask the people in Bergen County.

In Bergen County, where the Democrats said he [Forrester] contributed $4,200 months before BeneCard received a contract, Forrester noted that Democrats controlled the freeholder board that awarded the BeneCard contract.

Oh well, why let the facts stand in the way of a political stunt.

Update: From The New York Times

Mr. Forrester said that most of the contracts predated any contributions that he had made as a private citizen or through a political action committee. He found it puzzling, as well, that some of the contracts flagged by Democrats were in areas like Bergen County controlled by Democrats.

Mr. Forrester also rejected Democratic suggestions that the contracts were "no-bid contracts." In fact, he said, the contracts were awarded only after a competitive screening process in which they were evaluated each year by private-sector consultants hired by the local governments. Those governments retain the right to opt out of a BeneCard plan if they do not get the best price.

But Mr. Forrester did offer a theory as to why Democrats had latched on to the BeneCard story.

"There has to be some contest going on where Jon Corzine has offered a prize - perhaps it's this ephemeral prize that I don't think he'll ever be able to award, namely a replacement of his seat in the Senate to individuals who can come up with the most outrageous suggestion about Doug Forrester," he said. "The idea that there's some economic advantage that I gain by running for office is foolish and demonstrably false."