Barbara Boxer isn’t exactly known for her accessibility. But she’s really taken it to a new level in this campaign.

Apparently, you can talk to Barbara Boxer (or at least listen to her talk to you on a call) once a quarter…but it’s going to cost you. That’s right, she charges $15 a month just to hear her voice four times a year. That’s according to an e-mail the campaign sent its supporters earlier this week inviting those who commit to donating $180 per year to the campaign to a conference call tomorrow during which Boxer will speak. Apparently the $174,000 California taxpayers cough up for her annual salary isn’t enough to cover the cost of a senator who will actually care to listen to her constituents.

Then again, this is hardly the first time Barbara Boxer has tried to make her constituents pay to talk with her. Last summer, when Congress was debating the health care bill, Boxer went on book tour instead of holding free, open-to-the-public town halls as her colleagues across the country did to discuss the overhaul plan.

Instead, Californians who wanted to talk with Barbara Boxer about one of the biggest changes in federal government policy in decades had to buy one of her books, stand in line and pray they could squeeze in a question about government-funded health care while “XOXO, Barbara” (or, more likely, “XOXO, Senator”) was being inscribed in their copy of Blind Trust.

Attendees Of The Event “Were Required To Purchase The Book To Get A Seat Inside…” “Wednesday night’s protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside the Marketplace shopping center where Book Passage is located, and also outside the bookstore’s entrance. Attendees of the event were required to purchase the book to get a seat inside, leading to an exchange between Boxer and James Urquhart of Santa Rosa that drew a round of laughter. ‘Your book is going in the trash as soon as I get home,’ Urquhart said. ‘Well, I’m glad you bought it,’ she retorted.” (Jim Welte, “Protesters Hound Sen. Boxer At Book Event,” Marin Independent Journal, 8/12/09)

So if you want to talk to Barbara Boxer about the unemployment crisis our nation faces or any other issue of concern, you better get yourself over to her Web site and get that credit card out, or wait for her next fiction novel to hit the shelves and get in line to buy a copy.