SAN FRANCISCO — The Fair Political Practices Commission is assessing a state complaint into California’s Insurance Commissioner. It’s in response to a 7 On Your Side investigation exposing dozens of Ricardo Lara’s international trips on taxpayers’ dime — all while missing some key state insurance meetings.
For more than nine months, we’ve requested information about 48 of Commissioner Lara’s trips. However, the department has only identified a direct business purpose for seven of those trips, three of which included vague descriptions. Due to incomplete records, it’s unclear how many of these trips were taxpayer funded. Receipts show expenses for at least 13 pricey trips were on taxpayers’ dime.
Furthermore, records for travel expenses to at least a dozen international destinations remain missing.
Newly obtained records now reveal the cost of his security detail for several of his controversial trips. State expenses show trips that listed no insurance-related meetings were five times more expensive than previously reported. Receipts show tens of thousands of department funds were spent on five-star resorts that turned into extended trips — including an African safari and an extended stay at a five-star resort in Dubai.
A nice gig, right? Especially when it’s funded by taxpayer dollars — upgrading flights to business and first class, expensing the five-star resort stays… and, as we found out, a safari, limo service, chauffeurs… the list goes on.
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Safari, limo, 5-star resorts: CA insurance boss’ taxpayer-funded travel, security raise questions
