The Governor’s Double Game on California’s Bullet Train Oversight

Gavin Newsom has been quietly working to strengthen oversight of the High-Speed Rail Authority, but now he’s threatening to veto key provisions in a bill that would give his inspector general more power. Despite appointing Ben Belnap as inspector general last year and agreeing with him that he needs more authority to do the job effectively, Newsom is now considering vetoing Assembly Bill 1608.

The bill has bipartisan support from lawmakers and watchdogs, but it seems Newsom’s administration is more interested in stripping away the oversight tools that would give Belnap some real bite. The provisions in question include the power to audit contracts, investigate potential fraud, and flag problems before they become huge financial sinkholes.

These are essential tools for any watchdog worth its salt, especially considering the authority’s troubled history with mismanagement. For example, it has taken two years and $1.15 million to purchase $300,000 worth of standard software, with another $2 million in costs projected due to the state’s approval process.

The inspector general has been trying to buy this software directly using the same purchasing rules as other state agencies, but he’s been blocked at every turn by bureaucratic red tape. This is a classic example of how the system can be rigged against reformers: authority officials can get what they need when they want it, while Belnap faces resistance from those who should be helping him.

Newsom’s actions on this bill raise serious questions about his commitment to transparency and accountability. By enacting some provisions quietly through a budget trailer bill last year, he was able to slip them past public scrutiny. Now, with the veto threat looming, it seems he wants to take away the very tools that would give Belnap the power to do his job effectively.

The implications of Newsom’s actions go far beyond the High-Speed Rail Authority, of course. If he is willing to veto key oversight provisions in a bill with bipartisan support, what does that say about his commitment to good governance? It’s not just about this one project – it’s about the kind of leadership California deserves.

The inspector general’s office needs these tools to do its job effectively. Without them, Belnap will continue to be hamstrung by bureaucratic red tape and inadequate resources. And that means we’ll all be footing the bill for a bullet train that may never actually run on time – or at least, not without some serious reforms.

As the Legislature hurtles towards its final two weeks of session, it’s hard to predict what will happen next. Will Newsom find a way to water down the bill and sneak his preferred provisions through? Or will he actually veto key parts of AB 1608 – and if so, why?

One thing is certain: we’ll all be watching with bated breath as this drama unfolds. And when it’s all over, one question will remain: what exactly does Gavin Newsom want for California’s bullet train program?