Gov. Newsom comments on Capitol Annex project secrecy

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday promised to get the California Legislature to be more transparent around the construction of the California Capitol Annex, a project that is currently underway to build a new office building and parking garage for state lawmakers and the governor. The California Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee has been overseeing and leading the project. The group, led by Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, has withheld public records and continues to leave taxpayers in the dark about how their money is being spent.Gov. Newsom will likely never use the building in his capacity as governor, as it’s expected to be complete at some point in 2027. It has been at least three years since the committee provided an update on the project, which was last estimated to be about $1.1 billion. The cost estimate had doubled since the project was approved in 2018, which was pinned at $543.2 million. More than 2,000 people, including government officials and state lawmakers, have signed non-disclosure agreements in order to keep the broad use of the public’s money a secret. Over the past year, KCRA 3 has learned about pieces of the project through leaks. California’s legislative leaders continue to withhold documents and have violated the state’s Legislative Open Records Act to shield public information. The Joint Rules Committee has been ignoring or rejecting KCRA 3’s requests for interviews for more than a year. “I don’t think it’s appropriate; they should provide you the information,” Newsom said when KCRA 3 asked about it Tuesday. Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta were holding a news conference on the state’s latest lawsuit against the Trump administration over the federal food assistance program known as SNAP. Both Bonta and Newsom mentioned or criticized Trump’s White House ballroom construction in their remarks. Pointing to those remarks, KCRA 3 began the line of questioning around the annex. “For you to conflate or compare or contrast, with all due respect, that I would separate from the ballroom and the desecration and the process that evolved, and the fact that he secured $300 million under curious circumstances from the annex and what the Legislature is trying to do,” Newsom said. “I’m not trying to defend those actions,” Newsom said, about the annex. “I didn’t know they were not talking to you, that members of the Legislature were not talking to you,” Newsom said. The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment in KCRA 3’s story earlier this month with similar questions asked in Tuesday’s press conference. “They’re on recess. Let me know; I’ll check in with them — happy to help you try to get access to members of the Legislature. With respect, not my branch of government, but because as a taxpayer, I’d like to know as well,” Newsom said. Neither the Joint Rules Committee nor spokespeople for McGuire and Rivas have responded to a request for comment. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday promised to get the California Legislature to be more transparent around the construction of the California Capitol Annex, a project that is currently underway to build a new office building and parking garage for state lawmakers and the governor.

The California Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee has been overseeing and leading the project. The group, led by Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, has withheld public records and continues to leave taxpayers in the dark about how their money is being spent.

Gov. Newsom will likely never use the building in his capacity as governor, as it’s expected to be complete at some point in 2027.

It has been at least three years since the committee provided an update on the project, which was last estimated to be about $1.1 billion. The cost estimate had doubled since the project was approved in 2018, which was pinned at $543.2 million. More than 2,000 people, including government officials and state lawmakers, have signed non-disclosure agreements in order to keep the broad use of the public’s money a secret.

Over the past year, KCRA 3 has learned about pieces of the project through leaks. California’s legislative leaders continue to withhold documents and have violated the state’s Legislative Open Records Act to shield public information. The Joint Rules Committee has been ignoring or rejecting KCRA 3’s requests for interviews for more than a year.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate; they should provide you the information,” Newsom said when KCRA 3 asked about it Tuesday.

Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta were holding a news conference on the state’s latest lawsuit against the Trump administration over the federal food assistance program known as SNAP. Both Bonta and Newsom mentioned or criticized Trump’s White House ballroom construction in their remarks.

Pointing to those remarks, KCRA 3 began the line of questioning around the annex.

“For you to conflate or compare or contrast, with all due respect, that I would separate from the ballroom and the desecration and the process that evolved, and the fact that he secured $300 million under curious circumstances from the annex and what the Legislature is trying to do,” Newsom said.

“I’m not trying to defend those actions,” Newsom said, about the annex.

“I didn’t know they were not talking to you, that members of the Legislature were not talking to you,” Newsom said.

The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment in KCRA 3’s story earlier this month with similar questions asked in Tuesday’s press conference.

“They’re on recess. Let me know; I’ll check in with them — happy to help you try to get access to members of the Legislature. With respect, not my branch of government, but because as a taxpayer, I’d like to know as well,” Newsom said.

Neither the Joint Rules Committee nor spokespeople for McGuire and Rivas have responded to a request for comment.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel