SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — California lawmakers overseeing the Capitol Annex Project are facing criticism after refusing to release key cost records and skipping repeated interview requests. The decision has raised fresh concerns about transparency in a billion-dollar taxpayer-funded project.
Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco and State Sen. John Laird lead the Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee, which manages the Capitol Annex Project. Both lawmakers had pledged in December to improve transparency and provide a cost update in early 2026.
However, they have not delivered on that promise. Over the past three months, both declined multiple interview requests. They also refused to release updated cost documents before the Legislature’s spring recess. The Capitol Annex Project will house offices for California’s 120 lawmakers and future statewide leaders. The project has drawn attention due to its rising costs and long timeline, with completion expected in fall 2027.
Sacramento television station KCRA filed a Legislative Open Records Act request in August. The request sought documents tied to Turner Construction, the main contractor on the project. Specifically, it asked for monthly or periodic reports that include cost forecasts and financial updates. Lawmakers rejected the request. In a written response dated March 20, Chief Administrative Officer Lia Lopez said the documents would remain confidential.
“Documents responsive to this portion of your requests are exempt and will not be released until the Annex project is complete,” Lopez wrote.
The committee argued that releasing the records now would not serve the public interest. Instead, officials said they will wait until construction ends and any related claims are resolved.
After repeated denials, reporters confronted Pacheco and Laird inside the state Capitol building. Both lawmakers avoided detailed answers.
“I have to go take a picture,” Laird said when asked about his earlier promise of transparency.
When questioned about public trust and financial oversight, Laird said, “We will be transparent,” but did not provide a timeline. Pacheco also avoided direct answers. During a brief exchange in a crowded elevator, she insisted that her office had complied with records requests.
“We provided you all the LORA requests that you wanted,” she said.
Despite that claim, key financial documents remain undisclosed.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also weighed in on the issue. Speaking at a press conference, Newsom said the public should not have to wait years for basic financial information.
“As I said last time, and I was told there was progress, let me see what I can do to help,” Newsom said. “I cannot in good conscience support that decision based on the facts you just laid out.”
Newsom clarified that he did not approve the project and does not oversee its daily operations. However, his comments signal growing concern at the highest levels of state government.
The Capitol Annex Project has become a flashpoint for debates over government transparency and public accountability. Critics argue that withholding cost data prevents taxpayers from understanding how their money is spent. Supporters of disclosure say early access to financial reports helps detect cost overruns and mismanagement. Without those updates, lawmakers face fewer checks on spending decisions.
Pacheco and Laird previously promised to improve communication about the project. Their current stance has led to questions about whether those commitments will be honored.
For now, lawmakers say they will not release the requested documents until the project is complete in 2027. That timeline means the public could wait years for a full accounting of the project’s costs. Meanwhile, pressure continues to build from journalists, watchdog groups, and state officials. Newsom’s remarks suggest that additional scrutiny may follow.
