When New York says no to federal matching funds, it's usually fair to question the motives, and fiscal acumen, of those charged with managing state finances. But the Spitzer administration needs no such scrutiny for refusing $3.2 million in federal matching funds for abstinence-only programs. Saying no was not only the right answer, it was the only responsible one.

In an ideal world, youngsters would wait until marriage before having sex.

But no such world exists, and youngsters deserve to be told the truth - all of it - about sex.

It does them no good to be told only that condoms break (a failure rate that is exaggerated in some abstinence-only programs). They also need to know that condoms protect partners against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

That can be lifesaving information.

- The Times Union, Albany

Sen. Charles Schumer is trying to save phone owners a call by making the Do Not Call Registry permanent. Without his bill in the Senate and a comparable one in the House, all of those who signed up in 2003 will have to call next year to reregister.

Sounds simple enough, but Schumer questions why the burden has to be put on the consumer. That's a good point. If there are 149 million numbers placed voluntarily on the Do Not Call Registry - that's about half the U.S. population - doesn't that send a signal that cold-call telemarketing should be banned outright?

Under the Do Not Call registry, a company you have done business with has up to 18 months after a consumer's last contact with it to continue calling. Remember all the peace and quiet you've had since the registry began? Make this registry permanent.

- The Press and

Sun-Bulletin,

Binghamton