SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – The legislators of California and the former State Insurance Commissioner are responding to an investigation of 7 by their side on the trip funded by the taxpayers of the California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara throughout the world. Specifically, the lack of transparency on these trips, which are public records.

The vice president of the Assembly Insurance Committee, Assm. Greg Wallis, (R-Riverside) promised to take legislative measures to demand more transparency of the State, if the commercial purpose of ‘critical mission’ trips is not provided.

“If the insurance commissioner’s office cannot provide answers about the government’s purpose of this trip, I think it is absolutely appropriate for us to move forward requesting an audit so that we can obtain answers for taxpayers. Again, it is a question of transparency: it is a good government. It is something that the Californians deserve absolutely,” ASM. Wallis said.

7 At his side he informed earlier this week that Commissioner Lara made at least 46 trips throughout the country and worldwide since 2019, from the United Kingdom to Singapore and Glasgow and Dubai. The receipts show at least 11 excursions ‘related to the work’ totally financed by taxpayers to places such as Bogotá, Paris and a request for ‘critical mission’ of $ 14,000 to go to Chile.

Video: Bogotá and Paris? CA Insurance Boss takes a series of trips financed by taxpayers, raising concerns

As a result, Commissioner Lara lost more than half of the state insurance hearings held since he assumed the position. Specifically, Lara was absent for at least 14 state hearings. Most of the absences were with the Senate Insurance Committee, where the commissioner was not present for 7 of the 9 general informative hearings held since 2019. It was reported that the commissioner would travel abroad or through the country for at least four of those hearings.

But after more than a month of questions, the State has not yet identified the “commercial purpose” for almost all trips financed by taxpayers.

“I think there is definitely value to be able to make trips like this: meeting with people, leaders around the world,” said Assm. Wallis “The most important question here is why we cannot identify the purpose of the government of this trip. This should be an easy answer, without being valid.”

Assm. Wallis says that routinely makes trips to meet with interested parties and homologues in other states.

“If I asked my office the purpose of government trips, we could identify every benefit that came from these trips. I think that is the greatest concern,” he said.

More: CA insurance commissioner responds to criticism for lack of transparency, responsibility

7 On his side he examined some of the trips financed by taxpayers who amounted to more than $ 20,000 and none of them seemed to list specific meetings related to insurance at their time. This includes the stay of the Lara Commissioner in Bogotá, Colombia and its five -star hotel stay for Pride Fest in New York City, which presented “DJ Kitty Glitter” in its calendar. Nor his request for “critical mission” for that ‘critical’ trip to Chile for a United Nations climate change conference.

“I think that is something we should easily make available to the public,” said Assm. Wallis

In response to history, Congressman John Garamendi, the first elected insurance commissioner of the State, issued a statement saying: “As an insurance commissioner, my work was always to put consumers first. Clearly, this value has not continued.”

The leader of the Senate Minoria, Brian Jones, (R-san Diego Count less”.

The governor’s office issued a letter to state agencies in January last year, warning the departments to reduce expenses in the middle of the budget deficit. The directive limited trips only to essential trips and critical mission. The records and photos obtained from 7 by his side show the commissioner made at least 15 trips after the launch of this letter.

Video: The Congressman calls the State Insurance Chief to implement the freezing of rates in the middle of the crisis: ‘Do your job’

According to the budget letter, it required that the agencies list the “Purpose of the trip” forks “Critical Mission Criteria” – Or if it did not adjust to that description, at least one “Explanation why it is the best for the State.” However, after more than a month of requesting this information, 7 on his side has not received more response from the insurance department.

“There must be a guardian, somewhere on the line, I think we have lost that guardian … if there were such a person, they would not be approving these statements,” said Ray Asbell, a former of the Insurance Department and employee of the Human Resources Department.

“I know that the commissioner’s office replied and talked about transparency and wanted to be transparent. Part of that is to answer those questions,” said Assm. Wallis

He says that if there is any determination that trips were not considered “critical mission”, he will ask that an audience meets in the legislature.

(Note: There are a significant part of the travel expenses requested in the state or have not yet been provided).

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