Video propaganda called illegal

Lawyers for the state Legislature have concluded that the Video News Releases produced to support your governor's attempt to eliminate lunch breaks are illegal. The legislature's deputy council made the same point we made a few weeks ago, that publicizing state laws and regulations is kosher, but pushing proposed changes is a whole different kettle of fish:

Deputy Legislative Counsel Cecilia Moddelmog found that public agencies are allowed to prepare informational news releases, but not "promotional" ones designed to sway public opinion to one side. Moddelmog's 14-page opinion said the video report her office analyzed ignored strong opposition to the governor's proposed changes, making its ``style, tenor and timing'' promotional. As such, the administration's labor agency "was not authorized to expend public funds" to produce the video. The agency spent $1,262.

The governor's people, of course, insist that they've done nothing wrong.