Politics and other nightmares

Today's quiz. Which one of these Supreme Court justices would your rather trust the First Amendment to? First, there's Stephen Breyer, one of the "living Constitution," change-the-meaning-to-suit-the-times guys:

Dick, Dick, Dick. What are we gonna do with you?

Cheapskates:

 A new report shows Indiana is falling behind other states across the country when it comes to using money from a 1998 multi-state tobacco settlement to pay for smoker prevention programs.
   The state is ranked 28th in the study called "A Broken Promise to Our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 12 Years Later," which was commissioned by the coalition of public health organizations.

This will drive the Hoosier road warriors insane:

Bucking a tide of resistance in state capitals and a free-spirited breed of motorcyclists, the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday said states should require riders to wear federally approved helmets.

Question asked:

How the city spends its nearly $40 million settlement with Indiana Michigan Power was a higher priority Tuesday for the Fort Wayne City Council than how the deal came to be.

In unanimously supporting the $39.2 million deal, council members focused most of their questions on how that money would be used and who would have a say in spending decisions.

And answered: DON"T SPEND IT.

Cool:

Legislative leaders say all Indiana General Assembly committee meetings will be shown live online in the 2011 session for the first time.

In previous legislative sessions, House and Senate sessions and certain committee meetings were broadcast online. But House Speaker Brian Bosma says cameras and microphones have been installed in all Statehouse committee meeting rooms so that all meetings can be shown online.

Man, that's a lot of White Castles

The Indiana State Board of Accounts says East Chicago Police Chief Augusto Flores and Human Resources Director Hector Rivera must repay $1,340 to the police department's petty cash for disallowed expenses -- including a run to White Castle, known for its hamburgers called "sliders."

I'm not sure I quite understand the hysteria over Four Loko. Four states have banned the caffeinated malt beverage, and the Chicago-based manufacturer has bowed to pressure and agreed to stop shipping it to New York. And in Indiana, beverage retailers are trying to get out in front of lawmakers:

The city hopes its One Cart Recycling program will increase the percentage of the population that recycles from 34 to at least 60:

The mayor explained the benefits of recycling, including using less landfill space and being eco-friendly. He also swung the biggest hammer available in tough financial times: The city's new contract with National Serv-All means Fort Wayne gets 50 percent of profits from sales of recycled material.

Taking big steps on important issues for the wrong reasons. A statewide smoking ban, for example:

Even the lobbyist who represents some of the principal opponents of a statewide ban said it's just a matter of time before smoking is prohibited across Indiana.