By Ashley Zavala
California Republican Assemblyman Josh Hoover says some state lawmakers like him are getting little to no information on the Capitol Annex Project and how much it could cost taxpayers.
"It’s amazing to me they're not only hiding it from the public, but they’re hiding it from the people who are ultimately going to move into this building and make budgetary decisions on state projects," Hoover said in an interview on California Politics 360.
The construction project has been underway for years and is expected to house the offices of California state lawmakers, the future governor and lieutenant governor in the fall of 2027.
The two lawmakers in charge of the project, Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco and State Senator John Laird, recently broke their promise to be more transparent about the taxpayer funded construction after years of secrecy. Broad non-disclosure agreements are legally forcing thousands of people involved to keep quiet.
The building had an original cost estimate of $543 million in 2018. With the NDAs in place, the estimate ballooned to $1.1 billion in 2021. Lawmakers have not provided an updated estimate since and refuse to hand over key cost records.
"We really know nothing more than the public," Hoover said. "The legislature, as far as I know, has never been updated on cost."
"I've been really disappointed," Hoover said of project leaders falling short on their promise. "If we are behind budget, if we are over cost estimates, we need to know that so we can properly prepare for that as necessary."
Hoover filed a bill this year, AB 2445, that would invalidate the NDAs on the project and prohibit new construction of a visitor’s center on the capitol’s iconic west side. He said it’s the only bill he’s written this year that has not been referred to a committee.
"Unfortunately, that bill continues to sit in the Rules Committee," Hoover said. That committee is led by one of the project leaders, Assemblymember Pacheco. Hoover said he put an official inquiry into why the bill isn’t being referred to a committee on Thursday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said earlier this week he would try to help bring more transparency to the project. The governor’s office is involved in decision-making on the project but is not overseeing the day-to-day aspects of the project.
Hoover and Assemblyman Joe Patterson sent Newsom a letter in December asking him to step in.
"At the time he was not enthusiastic to do that in fact his office referred us back to the Joint Rules Committee," Hoover said. "Maybe now he’s changed his mind now that we’re seeing the Rules Committee continue to keep information from the public, I hope he means that."
