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.