Although the state has severe budget problems, only “fixed” this spring by more borrowing and gimmicks, Governor Napolitano is continuing to issue advertising promoting herself. Apparently not certain she’s going to land a position in an Obama administration, she’s aggressively using taxpayer money to promote herself for a future run for McCain’s Senate seat in 2010.

Her latest piece of self-advertising is an “Arizona Guide to Help Uninsured Residents” (real meaning: Arizona Guide for Illegal Immigrants to Find Free Taxpayer Funded Healthcare”), prominently featuring a large picture of herself in the front along with a full-page meaningless message. Available in Spanish.

What is she doing publishing these things when state employees are reporting that as they’re quitting, they’re not being replaced, making state employment miserable for everyone else still working there? In order to come up with a budget agreement this year, the state took out $500-$600 million in new borrowing for school construction, and put off K-12 funding to a future year. State agencies took $400 million in cuts. Guess this didn’t include the governor’s office, which is dedicating its employees to producing these glossy booklets promoting the governor.

This booklet wasn’t necessary; the information can be found at DES. What does the governor have to do with finding insurance anyways? Taxpayers should demand to know how much money was spent on it, how many were printed, and where it was distributed. We’re offended that we’re funding this governor’s race for Senate. She’d be the last candidate we’d vote for.