unanimous vote by legislators and the first high-speed rail accountability measure to receive Democrat support. “Leadership is vision that cash flows,” Assemblyman Patterson said. “With every change order and subsequent demand for millions of unplanned for funds, it becomes more and more clear that the HSR Authority is making things up as they go along. Many of my Democrat colleagues are having buyer’s remorse and are finally demanding accountability.”
Assembly Bill 2847 would implement two recommendations from the Legislative Analyst’s Office that would strengthen the public and Legislature’s oversight on the High Speed Rail Authority.
1. Requires the Rail Authority to provide more detailed information about the cost, scope, and schedule of each project segment to make it easier to track changes in the project.
2. Requires business plans to include financing costs associated with the planned system and construction of the various segments.
The bill was previously approved unanimously in the Assembly Appropriations and Transportation Committees as well as on the Assembly floor and the Senate Appropriations and Transportation Committees. The bill heads back to the Assembly for a procedural concurrence vote before moving to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
Source: Assemblyman Jim Patterson
