In fact the tobacco money has been raided to balance our budget, buy $100,000,000.00 police posts, and make happy happy the state's employees, (particularly the ones with a union card) who have not seen the cuts those of us in the private sector have seen.  ..yet.

Michigan's assets are fungible.  And all that smoking that Michigan loves and hates at the same time sure is one great big asset that loves to be spread around for good cheer.

Financial manager Bobb has one job. That is to find ways to fund the DPS system.  He has been one of the most feared men by those within the DPS looking to keep whatever it is they still have.  He has actually done a decent job, and I wouldn't trade places with him for a minute.

But this is going too far.

The hard decisions made possible by DECADES of mismanagement, corruption and fraud cannot be continually placed as a burden on Michigan taxpayers.  Money that was once coerced from a business for 'health reasons,' had its first earmark as a PROMISE to Michigan youth who agreed to commit to college and achievements in school.  The tobacco settlement has become a pot of gold now used to fill in for whatever shortfall the state finds itself in, and usually BEFORE the actual funds are made available.

So maybe a commission, with a couple of has-been congressmen, to do the work of the legislature would be in order here..