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Now, this book will probably not get “The Pet Goat” famous (or infamous), but that hasn't stopped Dallas Woodhouse from giving it a go. Woodhouse is a spokesman for the NC chapter of Americans for Prosperity. (AFP is a gass-roots-ish sort of group opposes higher taxes and the like.)

He circulated an e-mail Friday afternoon that reads in part:

The book that Governor Mike Easley said he wanted the state to buy for every child in North Carolina was written by him, and published by The National Education Association (NEA). His sister is the illustrator.

Is the state going to pay for this book?

Okay, so flashback to Thursday late morning, and the governor is pitching his latest state budget proposal and he’s talking about how he’s funding programs to help kids get to college. And during that spiel he holds up a book.

“I’m trying to get this book, ‘Lookout College Here I Come,’ to every school in the state so kids start thinking about this at More at Four, at Kindergarten, in first grade, second grade, third grade. I want them thinking about college early on.”

I was sitting in the back of the room near the audio gear, so it didn’t register with me that the book had Easley’s name on the front.

So, the governor’s written a book and he wants to get it to every school in the state. Sounds like a potential for conflict of interest. Enter Easley spokesman Seth Effron:

“The state has not and will not spend any money on it,” Effron said.

He said the book is aimed at Kindergarten through third graders and will cost $22.95 for the hardcover version. Click here for more of the vital stats.

(Effron also groused a bit at no one asking about the book until someone like Woodhouse started asking questions about it. With about 10 minutes to ask questions about a $20.1 billion budget, the kids book wasn’t foremost on most reporters minds, I would imagine.)

At any rate, just how is this book going to get to every school in the state?

“They will be given to the schools but there will be no taxpayer money involved,” Effron said. So who’s picking up the tab? “I don’t have that information right now,” he said.

In the meantime, Woodhouse is going to hammer away at the idea of the book being a way for Easley to make a quick book buck. More from his e-mail:

“No wonder Easley did not address the Jim Black scandal in his state of the state address. He now wants to raise taxes so he, his sister and the National Education Association can make money. This is government at its worst lead by our state leader.