I also found that letter on the internet. It is dated September 16, 2003. I hope for the sake of the Schenectady County employees that the state of affairs at CanaRx has changed and that the mail order prescription plan is found safe by the U.S. FDA.
SCHENECTADY COUNTY GOP: Campaign donation illegal County Democrats review Canadian connection BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
The chairman of the Schenectady County Republican Committee is accusing county Democrats of breaking federal law by accepting a campaign donation from a foreign company. CanaRx Services, based in Tecumsen, Ontario, gave $5,000 to the Schenectady County Democratic Committee in November, said Republican Chairman Tom Buchanan. He said the donation is listed in the committee’s 11 Day Pre-General Financial Disclosure Report filed with the state and county boards of election. Buchanan said the 2002 McCain-Feingold Law prohibits a political committee from accepting a contribution from a foreign national in connection with elections. “I am filing a complaint by Friday with Federal Election Committee, asking they do an investigation and render a finding. If the Democratic committee is found guilty, it would be subject to fines and penalties,” Buchanan said. Schenectady County Democratic Committee Chairman Brian Quail said he is looking into how the committee accepted the donation. “If we made a mistake, we will fix it. If we did anything wrong, it was an oversight at worst. We are not looking to take donations from foreign nationals,” he said. He expects to make a decision today on whether to return the donation. The CanaRx donation was one of 36, totalling $44,000, the county Democratic committee recorded as accepting Nov. 16 on its disclosure form. It was CanaRx’s first donation to the county committee, Quail said. Buchanan tried to link the company’s donation to securing a contract with the county. Democrats control the county Legislature 11-4 but day-to-day operations are under the supervision of County Manager Kathleen Rooney. Democrats “took illegal money from a foreign company and turned around and awarded a contract to a company,” Buchanan said. Quail denied the connection. “The Democratic Party is not the county of Schenectady. The political committee cannot tell the government what to do,” he said. Quail said there is nothing illegal with a political campaign committee taking a donation from a business doing business in the county. “What is wrong is a quid quo pro, and that is not happening here,” he said. CanaRx does not have a direct contract with the county; it is through county employees as negotiated through several unions in 2004. Under the plan, an employee can directly purchase drugs by mail from a Canadian, British or Australian pharmacy. The county then reimburses CanaRx. County officials said the prescription drug program has saved more than $4 million for employees and county taxpayers since 2004. The county spends approximately $5 million annually on prescription drug costs for employees. Quail accused county Republicans of an indiscretion of their own: its county committee has not filed required financial disclosure forms for the last year with the county board of elections and can be subject to civil and criminal penalties. “They are complaining about a disclosure we made but are avoiding making disclosures themselves in a systematic, periodic manner. This is the guy in a glass house throwing stones,” Quail said. Buchanan said the Republican county committee already filed electronically with the state and plans to file paperwork with the county board as required. He said the Republican committee has nothing to hide; its disclosures will show “we are broke.” Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com
GOP chief seeks probe of donation Chairman asks action against Democrats who got funds from Canadian drug plan vendor
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published: Thursday, February 14, 2008
SCHENECTADY -- County Republican Chairman Tom Buchanan wants a federal probe into what he says is an unlawful donation Democrats received last year from the Canadian drug company that provides prescription drugs to county workers. "This is straight out of the Schenectady Democratic playbook, to hit up people that do business with the county for substantial contributions and funnel the county business back to the same company," said Buchanan, who branded it an example of "pay to play."
The term refers to a practice in which public officials award lucrative, in some cases no-bid government contracts and grant other favors to individuals. Buchanan, an attorney, contends the $5,000 donation violates the McCain-Feingold Law, which bars local, state or national committees from accepting campaign contributions from foreign companies. As a result, he is demanding the county Democrats return the money CanaRx Services Inc. of Ontario, Canada, gave Oct. 22, and said he believes the party also should be penalized for taking the money. State financial disclosure records show that on Oct. 22, CanaRx made the donation to the county Democratic committee. "I would expect that they would be fined and sanctioned by the Federal Election Commission," he said. "This is a Canadian drug deal that went bad." Democratic County Chairman Brian Quail issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon reacting to the allegation. "When Tom Buchanan attacks the Schenectady Democrats for what at worst was an oversight -- when we are investigating -- he is the guy in the glass house throwing stones," Quail said. He said the county Republican Party has failed to keep its financial disclosure forms up to date. Since being launched in 2004, some 1,200 families have enrolled in the county's drug package offered through CanaRx, and the county is saving over $100,000 a month, county spokeswoman Theresa Cassiack said Wednesday. Paul Nelson can be reached at 454-5347 or by e-mail at pnelson@timesunion.com.
Quail accused county Republicans of an indiscretion of their own: its county committee has not filed required financial disclosure forms for the last year with the county board of elections and can be subject to civil and criminal penalties. “They are complaining about a disclosure we made but are avoiding making disclosures themselves in a systematic, periodic manner. This is the guy in a glass house throwing stones,” Quail said.
Diversion tactics by Mr. Quail. He will soon be able to offer his excuse quoted above to the U.S. Attorney General and the Federal Election Commission.
"I accepted an illegal campaign contribution from a foreign national, in violation of federal election law and the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform law, because the Schenectady County Republican Party is tardy in filing their campaign financial disclosures." he will assert. Mr. Quail's glass house has provided the transparency to expose the corruption that pervades the Schenectady County Democratic Committee that he chairs. To Mr. Buchanan, I commend him for his accurate shot with the "thrown stone".
It is apparent to all that the Democratic party that presently controls the City of Schenectady government, the Schenectady County government, and the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority exercise quid pro quo (or as Buchanan terms it "pay to play") practices, that benefit the county Democratic party, in awarding county contracts. The SCDC, under Quail's leadership has now been found to have violated federal law.
For the sake of Schenectady County residents and our democracy, corruption and impropriety will be exposed in whatever party it exists. Stay tuned, more will follow.
For the sake of Schenectady County residents and our democracy, corruption and impropriety will be exposed in whatever party it exists.
I"m sure that there will be plenty to pass around. There will obviously be more to find with the dems as they DO control everything! They have had too much power for too long which is always not a good thing...no matter what party controls the dynasty.
I also sure hope that the reps are building a strong platform for which to run good candidates on and not just resorting to negative campaigning. (that's usually a dem thing in our little corner of the world)
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
In response to Judy Dagostino’s Feb. 12 Letter (“Schenectady County and workers save big with Canadian drugs”), I feel compelled to suggest that taxpayers and county employers are not the only parties who have benefited from the Canadian drug program contracted by “the new Democratic majority” in county government. According to the 11-day pre-general election filing by the Schenectady County Democratic Committee, accessible for public review from the Schenectady County Board of Elections Web site, the Canadian company, CanaRx, with which Schenectady County contracted for prescription drugs, made a reported maximum contribution of $5,000 to the party that presently controls both the city and county governments. The campaign filing indicates that the location of CanaRx is Ontario, Canada. As a taxpaying resident of Schenectady County and a patriot, I have several concerns about my recent discovery that was omitted from Ms. Dagostino’s letter. Do existing campaign finance laws permit the acceptance of funding from foreign individuals and companies? If so, does it endanger our democratic form of government that candidates may become beholden to foreign interests by the candidates’ acceptance of campaign funding? Finally, was the contract that was awarded by Schenectady County to CanaRx put out for competitive bid and was the award of said contract based solely on the bids received? The information available in public records, including the campaign filings by the political parties, provides insight to the workings of our government officials and integrity of our elected representatives. BRAD LITTLEFIELD Delanson
Democrats should OK independent probe of CanaRX deal, donation
In response to county Legislator Judy Dagastino’s Feb. 17 letter, “Democrats swayed by CanaRX‘s contribution?” that touted her role in securing a transaction between Schenectady County and the foreign drug company CanaRX, I have a few questions that I believe the taxpayers deserve some answers on. First, what did Legislator Dagostino, a state Democratic committeewoman, have to do with the contract between CanaRX and its illegal $5,000 contribution to the Schenectady Democrat Party? Federal law is clear: It’s patently illegal for any political committee to solicit and accept donations from foreign nationals. The Democrats violated federal law when they took $5,000 in tainted campaign cash from CanaRX, a foreign company. I have referred this matter to the U.S. attorney and the Federal Election Commission for a full-fledged criminal investigation. Second, did CanaRX receive a “sweetheart deal,” or any kind of preferential treatment from the county, because of this and possibly other donations? If so, it would be a scandal that could blow the roof off the county Legislature and cast a serious pall over the Democrats’ attempts to deny that a “pay-to-play” culture does, in fact, exist in Schenectady County. Finally, will Legislator Dagostino and the rest of the Democratic majority support the appointment of a non-partisan, independent ethics investigator to get to the bottom of this emerging scandal? I believe that the taxpayers of Schenectady County will have zero confidence in the ability of the Democrat majority to investigate themselves — and for good reason. TOM BUCHANAN Rotterdam The writer is chairman of the county Republican Committee.
Do we really think this little 'scratch' will be the end-all? Not....there are other names that can be rounded about to put the money where folks want it.....ALL PARTIES INCLUDED HERE.....dont blow smoke at the sheep.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Ya know, I agree with Mr.Buchanan's opinion about this whole alleged campaign contribution issue.
But my question is...did he write this himself or did someone write it for him? Cause it was terrible. Really!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Re the March 7 article, “Officials expect $343K in drug savings — County seeking to cut into shortfall”: I find it amazing that while Schenectady County faces a projected $12 million to $16 million revenue shortfall, they’re saying they are going to save $343,000 on drug costs. First of all, $343,000 is less than 3 percent of the full amount that is needed. While a good start, it’s not much. Let’s find real ways of cutting costs — like removing patronage jobs. The same article states that the county will bring in $7 million in sales taxes less than expected. How about bringing shoppers into the county by reducing sales taxes? Schenectady County now has the highest sales taxes in the Capital Region. Can it be surprising that as one of the top 10 taxed counties in the nation, Schenectady is having a hard time bringing in money through mortgage taxes? People won’t want to shop in, much less move to, a community if the taxes are too high. KEVIN MARCH Rotterdam
Great letter and great point Kevin. But your suggestion of lower taxes and to cut patronage jobs, I'm afraid will fall on deaf ears. I don't think that is an option for them!
Nice article Kevin but you'll never see the Dems follow any good advice with the people who are currently running this county. There was a joke going around that trying to raise taxes to get out of debt is like standing in a bucket and trying to lift yourself up. The Schdy officials haven't learned that it can't be done and they just keep trying to do the same old game of tax and spend.
Great letter Kevin. Good recommendations. Although they will likely fall on deaf ears, the public opinion should continue to be expressed. You are a good citizen of the community. Keep up the fight!
Oh, don't worry, I will. And I'm so upset with how things are going in this county, I think I need to talk to a couple of the people that are currently sitting on the board to see how much of their time it really takes on a monthly basis. I really, and I mean REALLY, think that I just might be leaning towards a run in 2009. I gues I need to start talking to Joe Suhrada and seeing what it's really like. I know it won't be fun, especially trying to win the seat of an incumbent who I'm sure will be running for re-election, but we need to start swinging this thing, even if it's one seat at a time. If my name is not on the ballot, I'm sure I'll be out there pounding the pavement helping whoever it is that is running for the seat.
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