U. presidency at the end of June, is likely to want to declare the constitution dead in the water to get off the hook of its own referendum, due in 2006.

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Simply, because under the Constitution, state governments have authority over water resources -- and they are loath to give it up to the feds because they earn billions from water charges.

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The constitution empowers the state as the guarantor of education, health care, food, social security, and water resources for its inhabitants.

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The Ecuadorian constitution empowers the state as the guarantor of education, health care, food, social security, and water resources for its inhabitants.

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