Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jan 2006
Source: Press of Atlantic City, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2006 South Jersey Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/29

NEEDLE EXCHANGE

Playing Hardball

"Senatorial courtesy" - a New Jersey legislative tradition that 
allows state senators to block, without giving a reason, appointments 
of people from their home districts to state positions - is an ugly 
and archaic practice.

But what about the use of senatorial courtesy in the service of a good cause?

Frankly, we have to give state Sen. Nia Gill, D-Essex, our grudging 
approval. She's openly using senatorial courtesy to block the 
appointment of two reformers to the University of Medicine and 
Dentistry of New Jersey board of trustees (insert obligatory "tsk, 
tsk" here). But she's doing it to force acting Gov. Richard J. Codey 
to put the stalled needle-exchange bill up to a vote in the Senate. 
And in one of his rare missteps, Codey, who is also Senate president, 
is refusing to give the needle bill special consideration.

At the moment, it's a stalemate, and the legislative session ends 
today. Codey should relent. The needle bill is sound. It has been 
approved by the Assembly. It allows for the controlled distribution 
of clean needles to drug addicts - a practice that AIDS experts say 
is key to limiting the spread of the disease, particularly to women 
and children. And it includes funds for treating drug addicts and 
provisions for AIDS testing.

Atlantic City is seen as one area where needle exchange is a critical 
public-health issue.

"Senatorial courtesy is not being used to advance development or 
please a party boss, but for women and children who may not even be 
in a position to vote for me," Gill told The Star-Ledger.

Codey supports needle exchange - but won't push the bill for a vote, 
according to published reports.

That's a shame. UMDNJ needs its new trustees. Places like Atlantic 
City and Newark need needle exchange.

Gill is playing hardball by using senatorial courtesy. But she's 
doing it for a good cause.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman