I’m kind of divided on this. Do we kill the trees or do we have Meg Whitman waste some of her money? Ok, sorry, trees, but I’m going to humbly suggest that everybody order a copy of Meg Whitman’s policy “magazine” here.  It’s a glossy 48 page model of production values, and it can be yours at the low, low price of a bit of your sanity.

But, if you miss your chance to order one, Whitman’s hoping to get them into your local public library.  Yeah, you read that right. She sent them to 1600+ public libraries to be displayed along side other periodicals.

“I encourage the libraries to display my magazine in their periodicals section so voters can gain a clear understanding of how I will govern, if elected in November,” Whitman said in a statement. It was unclear if the magazines could be checked out or would have to be viewed in the reference section.(LA Times)

If this idea strikes you as sketchy, that’s because it is quite possibly illegal. Steve Poizner’s folks dug up a law about public funds going towards campaigns, and it is quite possibly in play here. (Over the flip.) While the placement of one magazine on the rack doesn’t cost the library a ton, it does displace other materials and does require the librarian’s attention. (Right, shayera?) That’s a non-zero amount of money.

Furthermore, the audacity of a campaign to try to get this clear campaign literature into the public libraries is incredible.   But hey, why not, rules aren’t meant for billionaires, right?

Anyway, order your Meg-o-zine today. And for 5,000 of your closest friends.

Cal Gov Code § 8314 (2010)

§ 8314.  Unlawful use of state resources; Penalties

(a) It is unlawful for any elected state or local officer, including any state or local appointee, employee, or consultant, to use or permit others to use public resources for a campaign activity, or personal or other purposes which are not authorized by law.

Cal Gov Code § 54964 (2009)

§ 54964.  Unlawful expenditure

  1. An officer, employee, or consultant of a local agency may not expend or authorize the expenditure of any of the funds of the local agency to support or oppose the approval or rejection of a ballot measure, or the election or defeat of a candidate, by the voters.