Of the Right to Life and Reserve Powers

In "FUNDING EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH", Mr. Olasky makes the case "not to have federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research."

We can and should distinguish among different governmental objectives. The federal government is constitutionally obliged to provide for the national defense, so Washington can't opt out on that issue. On discretionary questions, though, it's much better to let private individuals and organizations make decisions on funding, rather than have the government steamroll those with ethical objections.

The U.S. Constitution does not authorize medical research, so federal embryonic stem-cell research spending should be eliminated as soon as possible. I believe that a human life begins at conception, but even those that do not share this view should respect the reserved powers of the states and the people and stop the federal expense in this medical matter.