Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2001 San Jose Mercury News Contact: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390 Author: Jon Biggar Letters To The Editor SELECTIVE ABOUT STATES' RIGHTS RECENT letters complaining about John Ashcroft's stand against assisted suicide in Oregon present a caricature of the states' rights position. Federal law is supposed to trump state law where the Constitution gives specific power to the federal government. In this case, there is already precedent that gives priority to federal law for drug enforcement. It's funny how liberals always run to states' rights when it suits the outcome they desire, such as the attempt by Florida's Supreme Court to overrule the Florida Legislature's constitutional power to determine the procedures for presidential elections. However, when a federal judge overturned California voters' desire to limit tax dollars going to support illegal aliens via Proposition 187, where were the liberals championing states' rights? Nowhere to be seen. Jon Biggar Mountain View - --- MAP posted-by: Beth