[RightWhale]

exactly where in the Constitution is the federal government authorized

You are correct. Someone should do a study at taxpayers expense to find out how the Feds are authorized to spend money on science.

[flashbunny]

maybe after that we can commission a study on what makes freepers think it's ok for the federal government to spend taxpayer money without the consitutional authority to do so, as long as it 'sounds like a good idea'.