Need "InBetween" (not just Before and After) Trigger

Knowledgeable Postgres hackers,

I want a trigger to happen after constraint checking but before row insertion.

insert_row
{
    db_check_constraints();
    if (constraints satisfied) {
        attempt_action()
        if (action_successful) {
            return allow_insertion
        }
    }
    return disallow_insertion
}

Doing the constraint checking in C is error prone and difficult to maintain.
That is Postgres' job anyway.

If I use a "before" trigger, the constraints are checked after I've already
performed my action.  Thus I have performed my action yet no row is inserted
(which is inconsistent).

If I use an "after" trigger, the constraints are checked first.  If the row is
inserted, I attempt to perform my action.  If my action fails, then I have an
inserted row but no action, which is also inconsistent.

The only solution I've developed involves a duplicate table and a transaction.

BEGIN
    insert into duplicate table with identical constraints
    insert into real table with trigger
COMMIT

By inserting to the duplicate table without a trigger, I get constraint
checking performed by the db.  Then I insert into the real table with the
"before" trigger.  If my action fails, everything fails.  Obviously I prefer a
solution not involving duplicate tables or such hacks.

Thank you,

    Matt