Let’s kick off a new series we’re going to call, “Where in the world is Haley Barbour?” with a little video from CNBC.

While legislators were working to pass a new budget, Haley Barbour was getting some national television time talking about energy.

What’s so ironic about this interview is that he says, “We’re cutting spending in my state.” But Gov. Barbour’s not doing anything with the budget. He’s AWOL, talking to television reporters and raising money at partisan GOP events.

So what’s more important to Haley Barbour than working to pass a state budget? An in-studio interview with a CNBC reporter on an issue that would serve him well as a presidential candidate.

(BTW… My favorite quote from Barbour: We’re the Saudi Arabia of coal!)