5 months ago
14
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- California lawmakers and the state's erstwhile security commissioner are responding to a 7 On Your Side probe into California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's taxpayer-funded question crossed the world. Specifically, the deficiency of transparency astir these trips, which are nationalist record.
The Vice Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee, Assm. Greg Wallis, (R-Riverside) vowed to instrumentality legislative enactment to request much transparency from the state, if the concern intent of the 'mission critical' trips aren't provided.
"If the security commissioner's bureau isn't capable to supply answers arsenic to the authorities intent of this travel, I deliberation it's perfectly due for america to determination guardant requesting an audit truthful we tin get answers for the taxpayers. Again this is astir transparency -- it's astir bully government. It's thing that Californians perfectly deserve," Assm. Wallis said.
7 On Your Side reported earlier this week that Commissioner Lara made astatine slightest 46 trips crossed the state and each implicit the satellite since 2019, from the U.K. to Singapore to Glasgow, and Dubai. Receipts amusement astatine slightest 11 afloat payer funded 'work-related' excursions to places similar Bogota, Paris, and a $14,000 'mission-critical' petition to spell to Chile.
VIDEO: Bogotá and Paris? CA security brag takes bid of taxpayer-funded trips, raising concerns
California's security brag was absent for astir each the Senate Insurance hearings since assuming office. Where was he? 7 On Your Side investigates.
As a result, Commissioner Lara missed much than fractional of the authorities security hearings held since assuming office. Specifically, Lara was absent for 8 of astatine slightest 14 authorities hearings. Most of the absences were with the Senate Insurance Committee, wherever the Commissioner was not contiguous for 7 of the 9 wide informational hearings held since 2019. The Commissioner was reported to beryllium traveling overseas oregon cross-country during astatine slightest 4 of those hearings.
But aft much than a period of questioning, the authorities has yet to place the "business purpose" for astir each of the taxpayer-funded trips.
"I deliberation there's decidedly worth to being capable to instrumentality trips similar this -- conscionable with people, leaders crossed the globe," said Assm. Wallis. "The bigger question present is wherefore we're not capable to place the authorities intent of this travel. This should beryllium an casual answer, nary brainer."
Assm. Wallis says helium routinely goes connected trips to conscionable with stakeholders and counterparts successful different states.
"If you were to inquire my bureau the intent of authorities travel, we would beryllium capable to place each azygous payment that came from these trips. I deliberation that's the biggest concern," helium said.
MORE: CA security commissioner responds to disapproval implicit deficiency of transparency, accountability
7 On Your Side looked into a fewer of the taxpayer-funded trips amounting to much than $20,000 and nary of them appeared to database immoderate specified insurance-related meetings connected his schedule. This includes Commissioner Lara's week-long enactment successful Bogota, Colombia and his five-star edifice enactment for Pride Fest successful New York City, which featured "DJ Kitty Glitter" connected his calendar. Nor his "mission critical" petition for that 'mission critical' travel to Chile for a United Nations clime alteration conference.
"I deliberation that's thing that we should beryllium capable to marque easy disposable to the public," said Assm. Wallis.
In effect to the story, Congressman John Garamendi, the state's archetypal elected security commissioner, issued a connection saying: "As security commissioner, my occupation was to ever enactment consumers first. Clearly, this worth hasn't continued."
Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, (R-San Diego County), who besides sits connected the Senate Insurance Committee issued the pursuing response, "Californians merit transparency and accountability from each levels of government. With crises similar our state's ongoing security issues, it's much important than ever that agencies and officials amusement up, bash the work, and present results. Taxpayers expect and merit thing less."
The Governor's bureau issued a missive to authorities agencies successful January past year, informing departments to trim expenditures successful the midst of the fund deficit. The directive constricted trips to lone essential, ngo captious travel. Records and photos obtained from 7 On Your Side amusement the commissioner took astatine slightest 15 trips pursuing the merchandise of this letter.
California's caller security reforms instrumentality halfway signifier arsenic wildfire demolition unfolds successful Los Angeles County.
According to the fund letter, it required agencies to database the "purpose of the trip" and its "mission captious criteria" -- oregon if it didn't acceptable that description, astatine slightest an "explanation wherefore it's successful the champion involvement of the state." Yet, aft much than a period of requesting this information, 7 On Your Side hasn't received immoderate further effect from the Department of Insurance.
"There has to beryllium a gatekeeper, determination on the enactment I deliberation we've mislaid that gatekeeper... if determination was specified a person, they wouldn't beryllium approving these claims," said Ray Asbell, a erstwhile Department of Insurance and Department of Human Resources employee.
"I cognize the Commissioner's bureau responded to you and talked astir transparency and wanted to beryllium transparent. Part of that is answering those questions," said Assm. Wallis.
He says if determination is immoderate determination that the trips were not deemed to beryllium "mission critical," helium volition telephone for a proceeding to convene successful the legislature.
(Note: A important information of the question disbursal records requested from the authorities are missing oregon person yet to beryllium provided.)
Take a look astatine much stories and videos by 7 On Your Side.
7OYS's user hotline is simply a escaped user mediation work for those successful the San Francisco Bay Area. We assistance individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assistance connected cases betwixt businesses, oregon cases involving household law, transgression matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labour issues, oregon aesculapian issues. Please reappraisal our FAQ here. As a portion of our process successful assisting you, it is indispensable that we interaction the institution / bureau you are penning about. If you bash not privation america to interaction them, delight fto america cognize close away, arsenic it volition impact our quality to enactment connected your case. Due to the precocious measurement of emails we receive, delight let 3-5 concern days for a response.
Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
