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
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