(The Center Square) - It’s costing taxpayers at least $1.1 billion, but there’s only so much lawmakers are allowing the public to know about the California Capitol Annex Project.
The project has been shrouded in secrecy for years due to thousands of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) preventing people from talking about the project. Now a bill attempting to invalidate those secrecy agreements is set to die behind closed doors without any discussion, debate or public input.
kAmpDD6>3=J>2? y@D9 w@@G6C[ #\u@=D@>[ :?EC@5F465 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^8@@8=6]4@>^FC=nBl9EEADi^^=68:?7@]=68:D=2EFC6]42]8@G^7246D^3:==w:DE@CJr=:6?E]I9E>=n3:==0:5Tbsa_ada_ae_pqaccdU2>AjD2lsU2>AjD@FC46l5@4DU2>AjFDEl`ffgghbdbdcecggeU2>AjFD8lp~G'2H`y5><tA`4~G}B6b`6&K%~+Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8mpDD6>3=J q:== accdk^DEC@?8mk^2m :? u63CF2CJ] %9C66 >@?E9D =2E6C[ E96 D2>6 =2H>2<6CD E2D<65 H:E9 CF??:?8 E96 r2A:E@= p??6I !C@;64E ?6G6C 2DD:8?65 pq accd E@ 2 4@>>:EE66] %96 3:== ?6G6C C646:G65 2 962C:?8 2?5 :D D4965F=65 E@ 2FE@>2E:42==J 5:6 @? |2J af]k^Am
kAmw@@G6C D2:5 E96 :C@?J :D ?@E =@DE @? 9:>j 9:D :562 E@ <:== D64C6E 28C66>6?ED :D D4965F=65 E@ 36 D64C6E=J <:==65 C2E96C E92? AF3=:4=J 5632E65[ 2AAC@G65 @C G@E65 5@H? @? E96 >6C:ED]k^Am
kAm“xE H@F=5 D66> @55 E@ >6 E92E E96C6’D D@ >F49 A2DD:@? E@ <:== E9:D 3:==[” w@@G6C D2:5] “qFE[ 46CE2:?=J[ D@>6@?6 :D AC6DD:?8 E@ <66A E9:D 7C@> 86EE:?8 962C5]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$:8?:?8 2H2J E96 AF3=:4’D C:89E E@ <?@Hk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm}spD 2C6 =682==J\3:?5:?8 4@?EC24ED E92E 7@C46 A6@A=6 E@ <66A :?7@C>2E:@? D64C6E] %96C6 92D 366? 2 ?2E:@?H:56 AFD9 E@ AC6G6?E E96 FD6 @7 }spD :? E2IA2J6C\7F?565 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 AC@;64ED]k^Am
kAm“}@?\5:D4=@DFC6 28C66>6?ED 2C6[ 3J 567:?:E:@?[ 2?E:\EC2?DA2C6?E] %96JVC6 >62?E E@ 9:56 :?7@C>2E:@?[” w@@G6C D2:5] “%96JVG6 366? FD65 E@ AC6EEJ >F49 D:=6?46 6G6CJ@?6 :?G@=G65 H:E9 E96 AC@;64E[ :?4=F5:?8 =68:D=2E@CD[ :?4=F5:?8 4@?DECF4E:@? H@C<6CD]”k^Am
kAm%96 r2A:E@= p??6I !C@;64E :D D=2E65 E@ 4C62E6 @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 6IA6?D:G6 3F:=5:?8D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] v@G] y6CCJ qC@H? 2AAC@G65 E96 AC@;64E :? a_`e[ 4:E:?8 2 ?665 E@ C6A=246 2? @=56C 3F:=5:?8 4@?DECF4E65 :? `hda] %96 AC@;64E :D 36:?8 =65 3J E96 {68:D=2EFC6VD y@:?E #F=6D r@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAmrC:E:4D @7 E96 AC@;64E 92G6 366? H2CJ E92E @?=J 2 D>2== 8C@FA @7 =2H>2<6CD 86E E@ A:4< 2?5 49@@D6 H9:49 :?7@C>2E:@? :D >256 AF3=:4]k^Am
kAm“%96J’C6 67764E:G6=J D:8?:?8 2H2J E96 AF3=:4’D C:89E E@ <?@H[” D2:5 y@9? |@K6?2[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C t4@?@>:4 p44@F?E23:=:EJ] “xE’D C62==J E6==:?8 H96? J@F 92G6 AF3=:4 @77:4:2=D 2?5 AF3=:4 AC@;64ED E92E 2C6 DFAA@D65=J 7@C 2 AF3=:4 AFCA@D6[ 3FE E96? E96J 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8 E96J 42? E@ 2G@:5 AF3=:4 5:D4FDD:@? 2?5 AF3=:4 EC2?DA2C6?4J]”k^Am
kAm|@K6?2’D @C82?:K2E:@? H2D 2 7@F?5:?8 >6>36C @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32?D64C6E562=D]@C8^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8mq2? $64C6E s62=D 4@2=:E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^2m[ H9:49 @AA@D6D E96 FD6 @7 }spD :? DF3D:5:K65 AC@;64ED] %96 @C82?:K2E:@? 92D ?@E DA64:7:42==J E2<6? 2 DE2?46 @? pq accd[ 3FE |@K6?2 D2:5 96 :D 4@?46C?65 H:E9 H92E 96VD =62C?65 23@FE E96 r2A:E@= p??6I !C@;64E]k^Am
kAm“}@3@5J’D 7:89E:?8 282:?DE EC2?DA2C6?4J H96? E9:?8D 2C6 8@:?8 H6==[” |@K6?2 D2:5] “%96D6 <:?5D @7 4@?DECF4E:@? AC@;64ED 2C6 G6CJ DFD46AE:3=6 E@ 4@CCFAE:@?[ 6DA64:2==J H96? E96C6’D ?@ DF?D9:?6 :?E@ H92E A6@A=6 2C6 5@:?8]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 =2H>2<6CD H9@ AC@>:D65 EC2?DA2C6?4Jk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm{6256CD @7 E96 {68:D=2EFC6’D y@:?E #F=6D r@>>:EE66 AC@G:565 2? FA52E6 @? E96 r2A:E@= p??6I !C@;64E =2DE s646>36C]k^Am
kAmxE H2D E96:C 7:CDE FA52E6 :? J62CD]k^Am
kAmx? E92E FA52E6[ E96J 5676?565 E96 FD6 @7 xE2=:2?\4FE 8C2?:E6 36:?8 FD65 @? E96 AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“rFEE:?8 E96 8C2?:E6 :? xE2=J H2D E96 >@DE 277@C523=6 @AE:@? E92E DE:== 6?23=65 E96 FD6 @7 r2=:7@C?:2 8C2?:E6… s@>6DE:4 3:5D H@F=5 92G6 56=2J65 E96 AC@;64E[ C6DF=E:?8 :? :?4C62D65 4@DED]”k^Am
kAm%92E 2DD6CE:@? 92D 366? 5:77:4F=E E@ 724E 4964<] #64@C5D C6=2E65 E@ E96 xE2=:2?\4FE 8C2?:E6 92G6 ?@E 366? AC@G:565 5F6 E@ E96 }spD]k^Am
kAm%96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 C6BF6DE65 C64@C5D C6=2E65 E@ E96 AC@;64E EH@ >@?E9D 28@] $@ 72C[ ?@ C64@C5D 92G6 366? AC@G:565]k^Am
kAm{6256CD AC@>:D65 2?@E96C FA52E6 :? “62C=J a_ae[” H9:49 5:5?’E 4@>6 F?E:= |2J a_ae] pE E92E E:>6[ E96J C6G62=65 E96 AC@;64E H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^42=:7@C?:2^2CE:4=60dd5`_6e4\f76b\cc_3\2`g4\2476h47e`2e7]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m2E C:D< @7 8@:?8 Shg| 23@G6 3F586Ek^DEC@?8mk^2m 2?5 H2D?’E D6E E@ 36 7:?:D965 F?E:= ~4E@36C a_af]k^Am
kAm{2DE H66<[ :? 2? 6>2:= E@ =2H>2<6CD[ pDD6>3=J #F=6D r92:C q=2?42 !24964@ Ws\s@H?6JX 2?5 $6?2E6 #F=6D ':46\r92:C y@9? {2:C5 Ws\$2?E2 rCFKX AC@>:D65 E@ AC@G:56 FA52E6D E@ >6>36CD @7 E96 >65:2] qFE 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C !24964@ 2?5 {2:C5 DA6?E D6G6? 52JD 564=:?:?8 E@ 2CC2?86 2? :?E6CG:6H H:E9 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 5F6 E@ D4965F=:?8 4@?46C?D]k^Am
kAmq@E9 =2H>2<6CD AC@>:D65 E@ 5@ 2 36EE6C ;@3 AC@G:5:?8 FA52E6D E@ E96 AF3=:4 :? 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<4C2]4@>^2CE:4=6^42=:7@C?:2\42A:E@=\2??6I\4@?DECF4E:@?\=2H>2<6CD^ehfbcdd`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m:?E6CG:6H H:E9 2 =@42= E6=6G:D:@? DE2E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^2m =2DE s646>36C]k^Am
kAm“%9:D :?E6CG:6H :D E96 7:CDE @7 >2?J[” !24964@ D2:5] “(6 36=:6G6 :E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C FD E@ 36 EC2?DA2C6?E]”k^Am
kAms2G:5 z=:?6[ E96 G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 C6D62C49 7@C r2=%2I[ D2:5 96VD ?@E DFC6 H92E E96 y@:?E #F=6D r@>>:EE66 :D ECJ:?8 E@ 9:56 3J FD:?8 }spD]k^Am
kAm“%96J D9@F=5 36 8:G:?8 E2IA2J6CD 7C6BF6?E FA52E6D[” z=:?6] “x7 E96C6 2C6 AC@3=6>D 42FD:?8 E2I :?4C62D6D[ E96J ;FDE ?665 E@ =6G6= H:E9 E96 AF3=:4 2?5 E6== FD H92E E96J 2C6]”k^Am
kAmr2=%2I :D 2 ?@?A2CE:D2? @C82?:K2E:@? C6AC6D6?E:?8 E2IA2J6CD :? r2=:7@C?:2] %96 8C@FA 92D ?@E E2<6? 2 AF3=:4 A@D:E:@? @? pq accd 3FE :D 86?6C2==J 282:?DE }spD @? AF3=:4=J\7F?565 AC@;64ED]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 F?56CDE2?5 E92E 4@?DECF4E:@? AC@;64ED D@>6E:>6D E2<6 D@>6 EFC?D J@F 5@?’E 7@C6D66[” z=:?6 D2:5[ “3FE H96? J@F ECJ E@ H2==A2A6C @G6C :En %92E ;FDE C2:D6D DFDA:4:@?D] yFDE E96 2AA62C2?46 @7 E9:?8D 36:?8 9:556? >2<6D 6G6CJE9:?8 H@CD6]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 r2A:E@= p??6I !C@;64E up" A286[ }spD 2C6 “?646DD2CJ 28C66>6?ED 4@>>@?=J FD65 :? 4@?DECF4E:@? AC@;64ED E@ >2:?E2:? AF3=:4 D276EJ 3J 6?DFC:?8 D64FC:EJ :?7@C>2E:@? C6>2:?D 4@?7:56?E:2=]”k^Am
kAmq@E9 w@@G6C 2?5 z=:?6 DE2E65 E96J F?56CDE2?5 E96 ?665 7@C D64FC:EJ :?7@C>2E:@? 36:?8 <6AE AC:G2E6[ 3FE E96J 36=:6G6 E92E ?2CC@H 6I4FD6 :D 36:?8 3C@25=J 2AA=:65 E@ E96 C6DE @7 E96 AC@;64E E@ ;FDE:7J D64C64J]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mQ%96C6 2C6 42D6D H96C6 }spVD 42? D6CG6 =68:E:>2E6 3FD:?6DD AFCA@D6D :? AC@E64E:?8 EC256 D64C6ED[ 3FE 8:G6? r2=:7@C?:2VD 9:DE@CJ @7 E2IA2J6C\7F?565 3@@?5@88=6D[ x :>28:?6 r2=:7@C?:2?D H@F=5 AC676C E@ 6CC @? E96 D:56 @7 E@@ >F49 244@F?E23:=:EJ[Q D2:5 p?5C6H (:=7@C5[ E96 5:C64E@C @7 DE2E6 A@=:4J 2E E96 }2E:@?2= %2IA2J6CD &?:@? u@F?52E:@?] Qr2=:7@C?:2VD E2IA2J6C\7F?565 AF3=:4 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 92D 2? F?7@CEF?2E6 9:DE@CJ @7 C6DF=E:?8 :? E@@ >F49 VE2IA2J6C 7F?5:?8V 2?5 ?@E ?62C=J 6?@F89 VAF3=:4 :?7C2DECF4EFC6[V D@ 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 DF?D9:?6 :D 6I24E=J H92E E96 v@=56? $E2E6 ?665D]Qk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmu@C ?@H[ w@@G6C D2JD 9:D 3:== C6>2:?D :? “AFC82E@CJ[” 2?5 96’D H@CC:65 23@FE 7FEFC6 E2IA2J6C\7F?565 AC@;64ED 36:?8 <6AE 9:556? 5F6 E@ D:>:=2C D64C64J 28C66>6?ED] w6 36=:6G6D =2H>2<6CD ;FDE 82G6 E96> E96 C@25 >2A]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 366? E6CC:3=6 E@ E9:D A@:?E] xE’D 92C5 E@ 86E H@CD6 E92? H92E H6 92G6 C:89E ?@H[” w@@G6C D2:5] “(6 42? 4C:E:4:K6 H92E 92D 2=C625J 92AA6?65[ E96 =24< @7 EC2?DA2C6?4J @G6C E96 =2DE 76H J62CD[ 3FE H6 42? 2=D@ 7:I :E >@G:?8 7@CH2C5]”k^Am