Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jan 2006
Source: Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)
Copyright: 2006 Newark Morning Ledger Co
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/starledger/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/424
Author: Josh Margolin and Susan K. Livio, Star-Ledger Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

'SENATORIAL COURTESY' BLOCKS BID FOR REFORM

One week after federal authorities took over management of the 
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, an effort to 
reform the scandal-plagued school has been derailed by a political 
standoff in Trenton that has dismayed the governor and angered the 
U.S. attorney.

State Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) is blocking acting Gov. Richard Codey's 
appointment of two reformers to the UMDNJ board of trustees until the 
governor uses his power as Senate president to revive an unrelated 
proposal to provide clean needles to drug addicts.

Gill acknowledged she is using the long-standing tradition of 
"senatorial courtesy" to block dozens of appointments, including law 
professor Paula Franzese's nomination to the UMDNJ board. She said 
she will relent only if Codey forces the stalled needle exchange bill 
before the full Senate for a vote.

"We have a public health epidemic," Gill said. "Senatorial courtesy 
is not being used to advance a (real estate) development or please a 
party boss, but for women and children who may even not be in a 
position to vote for me."

Senatorial courtesy is an unwritten and long-controversial tradition 
that allows senators to block nominees from their home counties 
without stating a reason. Gill is blocking votes on more than 60 
Essex County residents nominated to serve as judges and members of 
college boards and public authorities.

The unusual collision of two high-profile issues -- needle exchange 
and UMDNJ reform -- has left Codey and Gill in a standoff and stymied 
the U.S. attorney's fledgling efforts to overhaul the health care 
university's management.

U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie was adamant that a political fight 
in Trenton should not be allowed to stand in the way of turning 
around the state's only medical and dental university.

"We are moving as fast as we can every day to bring real reform to 
UMDNJ," Christie said. "We need board members like Paula Franzese to 
ensure that that reform is instituted as quickly as possible."

Last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office appointed a federal monitor to 
oversee UMDNJ's finances and administration in a deal that will help 
the Newark-based health care university avoid a criminal trial 
related to $4.9 million in Medicaid overbilling.

UMDNJ's 11-member board of trustees is down to six members due to 
vacancies and three recent resignations. Franzese, of Cedar Grove, 
has extensive experience working on ethics issues and was scheduled 
to be the first of several new trustees on the board.

Codey scratched plans this week to announce a second nominee to join 
the UMDNJ board, according to three administration officials. That 
nominee, who was not identified, is also from Essex County and would 
be subject to Gill's block.

The reappointment of Newark City Council President Donald Bradley, a 
current UMDNJ trustee nominated to serve another term on the 
university board, also has been delayed by Gill's actions.

Gill said she has nothing against reforming UMDNJ. She just wants to 
force a vote on needle exchange legislation that she believes is 
critical to the health of many of the state's most vulnerable residents.

Codey failed to convince Gill to drop her objections during a private 
meeting Wednesday. He said he had nothing but respect for Gill "as a 
lady and as a state senator," but declined to comment further.

The governor pointed out the irony of the standoff: Not only is he a 
long-time ally of Gill, but he supports needle exchange.

"I voted for needle exchange, so I'm not necessarily disagreeing with 
her. That's life," Codey said.

Still, the governor has refused to use his power as Senate president 
to give special consideration to the needle exchange bill, even if it 
means delaying plans to reform UMDNJ.

The needle exchange measure passed the Assembly but is stalled in the 
Senate Health Committee due to lack of support.

Gill and other needle exchange proponents argue that the programs are 
needed in New Jersey, which has the highest AIDS and HIV rate among 
women in the nation and the third-highest pediatric AIDS and HIV rate.

Sen. Ron Rice (D-Essex), a leading opponent of the legislation, said 
he respects Gill. But he thinks she is making a mistake using 
senatorial courtesy to advance the bill.

"If you want to leverage legislation, you should use other 
legislation, not appointments that are needed and necessary," Rice 
said. Staff writer Kelly Heyboer contributed to this report. 
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