California Globe: Gov. Newsom Acquiesces to Freshman Assemblyman Who Leads on Insurance Commish Lara Travel Grift

Californians deserve a commissioner focused on stabilizing the market and protecting consumers— not someone padding their frequent flyer miles on the public’s dime’

By Katy Grimes

The elusive Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has become notorious, not for his leadership on California’s insurance crisis, but as an elitist globe-trotter, courtesy of the California taxpayers, while the state’s insurance companies left California. Lara traveled to grand places – 48 global trips for the Insurance Commish, including a safari, limousines, 5-star resorts, and Lara has security protection.

Lara’s office “has only identified a direct business purpose for seven of those trips, three of which included vague descriptions,” according to KGO/ABC7. Lara’s travel included a “luxurious 10-day trip to Dubai,” and “an extravagant trip to Cape Town, South Africa for an international insurance conference. The conference was only two days — yet receipts show taxpayers paid for his entire two-and-a-half-week stay.”

The Globe suggested, “Maybe Lara thinks he’s the California Travel Insurance Commissioner.”

Governor Gavin Newsom has been conspicuously silent on his Insurance Commissioner’s global tour, as well as on the cost to taxpayers. Is it because the governor’s office has to approve Lara’s travel?

Ruh Roh. Who has been signing off on Lara’s travel requests?

https://www.gov.ca.gov/about/orgchart/

While Newsom has been avoiding addressing Ricardo Lara’s world travel tour and abuse of taxpayer funds, Freshman Assemblyman David Tangipa (R-Fresno) is showing his leadership abilities.

Assemblyman Tangipa issued a press statement Monday regarding Ricardo Lara’s misuse of taxpayer funds, and calling for him to resign. Meanwhile Gavin Newsom announced another international partnership with Belgium “to grow economic relations and advance research and innovation, including in clean technologies.”

Wow. That’s really useful for California’s overtaxed, over regulated residents.

Here is Assemblyman Tangipa’s statement – pay close attention:

“California’s Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has shown a stunning disregard for the people he’s supposed to serve. As families across the state struggle to keep up with skyrocketing premiums and an unstable insurance market, Lara has been jetting off on taxpayer-funded vacations — including stays at five-star resorts, limo rides, and even an African safari.

While Californians are choosing between rent, groceries, and their next insurance payment, the very official tasked with fixing this crisis is billing them for luxury travel around the world. This isn’t just poor judgment — it’s a betrayal of public trust.

Democratic leaders in Sacramento have spent years promising to tackle California’s insurance crisis and skyrocketing cost of living. But instead of solutions, all we’ve gotten is failed leadership — and Ricardo Lara on vacation while families fall further behind. Californians deserve a commissioner focused on stabilizing the market and protecting consumers— not someone padding their frequent flyer miles on the public’s dime.

Ricardo Lara has made his priorities clear, and they don’t include the people of California. If he’d rather spend his time on vacation than doing his job, then he should step aside and pursue that full time. It’s time for Lara to resign.”

Mic drop.

Assemblyman Tangipa does Governor Gavin Newsom’s job for him asking Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to resign.

Leadership is really refreshing.

Originally published by California Globe
Katy Grimes, the Editor in Chief of the California Globe, is a long-time Investigative Journalist covering the California State Capitol, and the co-author of California’s War Against Donald Trump: Who Wins? Who Loses?

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