FORRESTER AD WATCH

Title: Says a Lot
Type: :30 TV
Date launched: 10/17/05

FORRESTER’S CLAIMS AND THE FACTS

ANNCR: Jon Corzine's friends tell you a lot. Corzine defended Jim McGreevey though scandal after scandal proved that corruption was rampant.

FACT: Forrester Doesn't Know What Good Government Is - He Praised Monmouth County, The Bastion Of GOP Corruption.

August 2005: Forrester Said Monmouth County Was "An Example Of Good Government." In August 2005, at a fundraiser for the Monmouth County Republican Party, Forrester said, "Monmouth County has always been looked to, and will continue to be looked to, as an example of good government. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." [Asbury Park Press, "Forrester Lauds Monmouth Government," 8/3/05]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2005
CONTACTS:
Ivette Mendez
Allyn Brooks-LaSure
Gloria Montealegre
732-729-9820 (Office)

FORRESTER AD WATCH

Title: Says a Lot
Type: :30 TV
Date launched: 10/17/05

FORRESTER'S CLAIMS AND THE FACTS

ANNCR: Jon Corzine's friends tell you a lot. Corzine defended Jim McGreevey though scandal after scandal proved that corruption was rampant.

FACT: Forrester Doesn't Know What Good Government Is - He Praised Monmouth County, The Bastion Of GOP Corruption.

August 2005: Forrester Said Monmouth County Was "An Example Of Good Government. "In August 2005, at a fundraiser for the Monmouth County Republican Party, Forrester said, "Monmouth County has always been looked to, and will continue to be looked to, as an example of good government. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." [Asbury Park Press, "Forrester Lauds Monmouth Government," 8/3/05]

Forrester's Comments Came On Same Day Monmouth GOP Official Became The 21st Implicated In Scandal. On the same day as Forrester's statement, Anthony Palughi, the former superintendent of the Monmouth County Division of Bridges, pleaded guilty on corruption charges. As of September 2005, a total of 21 people had pleaded guilty or had been charged in the two large federal investigations of Monmouth County corruption. [Asbury Park Press, 8/3/05; AP, 9/7/05]

ANNCR: He partnered with convicted felon Charles Kushner to get $150 million dollars in taxpayer money to buy themselves a sports team.

FACT: Forrester's Accusation Badly Misleads Viewers On Both The Points It Makes.

Corzine Was Clear That He Would Not Be Part Of A Group That Accepted Subsidies.

In Fact, Corzine "Condemned" Taxpayer Subsidies In The Very Article Cited By Forrester. In the 2003 article cited in Forrester's ad, the Star Ledger reported that Corzine "condemned a direct subsidy from the state" and, "in his first public comments ... said yesterday he opposes taxpayers' subsidies for owners of professional sports teams." Throughout the deal's negotiation, several other press accounts indicated that Corzine said he would not be part of a deal that involved state subsidies. The Bergen Record reported that Corzine "ruled out a taxpayer subsidy as part of any such deal. 'I won't be a part of something where that would be the case,' he said." The AP reported that Corzine said he “would be prepared to join a group if they had no economic subsidies.� The New York Post reported that Corzine would "oppose any state subsidies toward the purchase or operation of the team." [Star Ledger, 8/27/03; The Record, 8/27/03; AP, 9/4/03; New York Post, 8/27/03]

Nothing From The NJ SEA OPRA Backs Up Forrester's Allegation That Corzine Sought Subsidies. No documents in the OPRA that Forrester requested from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority regarding the sale discussed a subsidy for the purchase or operation of the New Jersey Nets. When asked about Forrester’s allegations, George Zoffinger, head of the NJ SEA, said: "It's just not fair to say Corzine was asking for subsidies. He was not." Zoffinger and Corzine never spoke regarding the Nets deal, according to Zoffinger's accounts and his phone logs. [NJ SEA OPRA Production for Doug Forrester; AP, 6/16/05]

Corzine Never Dealt With Kushner After He Was Charged With Wrongdoing.

At The Time Of The Nets Sale, Kushner Had Not Been Charged With Any Wrongdoing. Kushner was charged on three counts by the U.S. Department of Justice on July 13, 2004. The Nets had been sold to New York-based developer Bruce Ratner long beforehand, in January 2004. [US DOJ Release, 7/13/04; NY Times, 2/1/04]

After Kushner Was Charged, Corzine Led The Way In Returning Kushner’s Contributions. Within one week of Kushner being charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office with wrongdoing, Corzine announced he would expansively return Kushner's contributions. The Bergen Record reported that "Corzine defined Kushner money more expansively than others, saying he would give up $88,000 in donations from the developer and his companies." [Bergen Record, 7/20/04]

FACT: Forrester Is The Only Candidate Who Has Done Business With Charles Kushner.

2001-02: Benecard Paid Charles Kushner's Company $111,000 For Brokering Two Contracts. In 2001 and 2002, the Charles Kushner-owned Highview Planning LLC earned $111,000 when it brokered contracts between Benecard and Linden Board of Education, including Benecard;s first with the board. Kushner's firm earned a five percent commission from Benecard after Highview recommended Forrester's company for a $1.15 million contract with the Linden school board in 2001. Kushner's company brokered the renewal of Benecard's contract the following year, earning a 3.5 percent commission on a $1.5 million contract. [Star Ledger, 8/20/05]

ANNCR: And Corzine gave union boss Carla Katz $470,000 dollars, and then got Katz’s union to endorse him.

FACT: Corzine Was Backed Unanimously By CWA Local 1034 Based On His Unwavering Support For Working Families.

CWA Stewards Endorsed Corzine Unanimously. In June 2005, 300 CWA Local 1034 stewards voted unanimously to endorse Corzine for governor. Jeff Scott, CWA Local 1034's political director, said to the Trenton Times: "There was not one single objection. ... There was not one single voice against Corzine for governor." [Trenton Times, 8/9/05]

Corzine, Who Received A Perfect Lifetime Voting Record From AFL-CIO, Won 40 Union Endorsements. Forty of New Jersey's unions endorsed Jon Corzine for governor. Corzine received a perfect voting record from the AFL-CIO for all four sessions of Congress in which he has served. [Corzine Campaign Releases; AFL-CIO Scorecard]

FACT: Forrester- The Ultimate Hypocrite -Played "Checkbook Politics" And Even Put GOP Bosses On His Company's Payroll.

Forrester Gave Large Contributions To County GOP Organizations Where He Later Won Endorsements. In and leading up to 2005, Forrester gave tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to county Republican organizations in Mercer, Burlington, Camden, and Union counties. In all four cases, he later received the endorsement of those counties' GOP committees during the Republican primary. In Mercer, "Forrester's $20,000 in donations comprised 20 percent of the total receipts of the Mercer County Republican Committee" in 2004, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. In Burlington County, Forrester gave $39,400 to the Burlington County Republican Committee. Forrester gave $1,370 to Union County Republicans and $2,700 to the Camden County Republican Party. [Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/20/05; Bergen Record, 2/21/05; Star Ledger, 4/22/05; Forrester Campaign Website]

Opponent On Forrester: "It’s Checkbook Politics." In February 2005, GOP campaign consultant David Murray criticized Forrester's giving, saying, "It's checkbook politics. He writes a check with the expectation that he'll get the endorsement." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/20/05]

Forrester Had "Financial Dealings With An Array Of County Political Leaders," Including Two He Put On Benecard’s Payroll. In August 2005, the New York Times reported that Forrester "has had financial dealings with an array of county political leaders[.]" Forrester paid at least two Republican county leaders through the payroll of Forrester’s company, Benecard. The company hired a lobbying firm run by Dale Florio, the Somerset County Republican chairman, and employed Rich Zeoli, the Sussex County Republican chairman, to work as a salesman. [New York Times, 8/18/05]

ANNCR: Jon Corzine: more taxes...

FACT: Forrester Is The Only Candidate In The Race Who Has Raised Taxes.

Under Forrester, West Windsor's Tax Rate Increased By 200 Percent In Four Years. Between 1979 and 1983, when Forrester served as mayor and councilman of West Windsor, the town's tax rate increased by 200 percent. The New York Times reported that, during Forrester's tenure, he and the Township Committee increased property taxes from 38 cents per $100 of assessed value to $1.19. As the Star Ledger reported, "the tax rate did triple." [West Windsor Budgets, 1979-83; NY Times, 5/26/05; Star Ledger, 6/2/05]

ANNCR:... more corruption, more of the same.

FACT: No-Bid, Pay-To-Play Forrester Is The Last Person Who Should Be Promising Change.

Forrester's Company Received $89 Million In Contracts In New Jersey In Just The Last Year - Paid For By The Taxpayers. In August 2005, Benecard said it held $89 million - a one-year estimate- in public contracts to handle prescription drug health benefits for over 100 local government throughout New Jersey, including municipalities, counties, school boards, and other agencies. [Star-Ledger, 8/2/05; Asbury Park Press, 7/30/05]

Benecard's Public Contracts In New Jersey Are Not Subject To Competitive Bidding. In July 2005, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Forrester's contracts with public entities in New Jersey "do not require competitive bidding." The Bergen Record reported that "[s]tate law does not call for competitive bidding on government contracts for professional services such as legal work, engineering and insurance." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/30/05; Bergen Record, 7/30/05]

Forrester Paid To Play In Burlco - Where Benecard Overcharged Taxpayers. In October 2005, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Benecard "was chosen by the Burlington County Special Services School District to manage its prescription-benefits program in 2004 and again in 2005. Since 2003, Forrester has contributed nearly $60,000 to county Republican coffers. The school district selected BeneCard even though other companies offered lower costs for each year, and it renewed the contract this summer despite a 37 percent price increase by BeneCard." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/17/05]