It's only been four months since he was elected to the state Senate, but Virg Bernero already has begun to sing a different tune when it comes to dealing with Michigan's tobacco-settlement dollars.

The Lansing Democrat has proposed the state look at the $300 million it takes in each year from the 1998 settlement to help mend Michigan's $1.7-billion budget deficit.

This is, of course, the same Lansing Democrat who was an outspoken champion for November's failed Proposal 4, which looked to amend the state Constitution to earmark 90 percent of the settlement money for health care programs.

It seems Bernero is looking for a Band-Aid to heal a wound that requires stitches.

The state's tobacco settlement is not meant to solve the Legislature's money problems, it's meant to invest in the health of Michigan's citizens.

Proposal 4 failed, not because of its message, but because of its design. A constitutional amendment isn't the proper way to ensure that state dollars are spent wisely. Since the measure failed we, and many other Michiganians, expected our legislators to figure out how to best invest the state's tobacco settlement for a healthier future for our fellow citizens.

At least we expected that from those elected officials who were lead proponents of Proposal 4, such as Bernero.

The lawmaker, along with his colleagues, would do the state more service by looking for long-term fixes to Michigan's budgetary woes that won't wind up costing the state its future investments.

Bernero should stick to the campaign platform that got him elected. He is a creative lawmaker who can come up with better ways to help Michigan's present than throwing away its future.

We would hate to see inconsistency harm Bernero's chances at a future in the state Senate past his freshman term.