SACRAMENTO — The California State Assembly has focused on transparency with COVID-19-related expenses, but when lawmakers return this week, they are going to focus on the state's budget, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) said.
"The original session on the 20th was the session to look at the COVID-19 expenses as well as to get a clearer sense from the administration what other COVID-19 expenses would be coming down the pipe," Ting said in an interview with The Northern California Record. "While we can't completely predict the future, I think we have a much more transparent view."
Ting said the assembly will continue to push for more public disclosure of expenses and supplies and where those supplies are going.
"Fast and immediate transparency is very important," Ting said.
Ting said last Monday's hearing was on economic recovery.
"We wanted to take a hard look on what some of the needs are out there for people in the community—businesses, individuals, and so we wanted to have that opportunity to discuss with folks if we were going to do some kind of economic recovery program—what that would look like and what advice they would have for us," Ting said.
Ting said the administration's response has been fine, but the action has been slower than the assembly would've liked.
"We understand everyone is busy dealing with the pandemic themselves, but unfortunately everyone is busy getting supplies and we weren’t getting answers to where the supplies were," Ting said. "I think it’s really important to have that transparency."
Ting said the assembly will continue to provide a strong oversight role.
"It’s been a bit more challenging while we’ve been forced to work remotely," Ting said. "With the assembly going back May 4 we’re going to have more hearings on legislation and you’re going to see more oversight hearings as well."
Ting said there is always a concern regarding money, but the state has built a reserve fund just for these types of situations.
"The reserve was built for financial catastrophic situations," Ting said. "We built the reserve in order to help cushion us when there are recession and catastrophes."
Ting said the good part about the coronavirus expenditures is that the assembly has been hearing that most of that money will be reimbursed by FEMA.
"That is welcome," Ting said. "While there are expenditures, we’re hearing that’ll be reimbursed 75%."
Ting said despite working remotely, there has been no change in public input.
"We are just encouraging people to do it remotely," Ting said. "You can watch a legislative hearing online and see and hear it just like you were there."
Ting said while there may be followup hearings regarding the coronavirus in the future, the assembly will mostly be focusing on the state's budget over the next few weeks and not solely focusing on the virus.