Wed Sep 18 02:05:40 UTC 2024: ## California Legislature Faces Backlash for $5.2 Million Granite Import for Capitol Annex

**Sacramento, CA** – The California Legislature is under fire for spending $5.2 million to import granite from Italy for the new Capitol Annex building. This decision has raised concerns about transparency and cost-effectiveness, particularly as the state faces a budget shortfall.

The granite, mined in the Central Valley and shipped to Italy for fabrication, will be used on the exterior of the Annex, a $1.2 billion project that will house new offices for state lawmakers and other officials.

While project officials claim that no U.S. facility could perform the complex fabrication work within the timeframe, they have refused to provide details about other bids received for the project. This lack of transparency has fueled criticism from lawmakers and transparency advocates.

Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) expressed concern about the decision, stating, “This state, in a number of different areas, requires certain things, requires certain standards. But when the Legislature itself wants to do a project, it does not want to follow those standards.”

The decision to import the granite comes at a time when the Legislature is also facing criticism for its handling of the Capitol Annex Project itself. The project has been shrouded in controversy since its inception in 2018, with concerns over transparency and environmental impacts.

Despite facing a lawsuit over environmental concerns related to the project, the Legislature has been hesitant to provide public information about its progress. This has led to accusations of a lack of transparency, particularly in relation to the decision to use Italian granite.

While the Legislature maintains that the lawsuit prevents them from sharing details about the project, critics argue that this is a disingenuous excuse.

The decision to import the granite is likely to further fuel criticism of the Legislature’s handling of the Capitol Annex Project, and could put pressure on lawmakers to be more transparent about their decision-making processes.

Read More