According to a press release from Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, his bill to audit legislative books "was killed this morning in the Assembly Rules Committee. The vote fell along party lines with 4 Republicans in favor, 4 Democrats opposed on the recommendation of Nancy Skinner, Chair of the Assembly Rules Committee."
AB 1887 would have asked the State Controller to take over and conduct an annual audit of the legislature's books for two years. After that, the Joint Rules Committee would take over the audit process. The bill also would have required the Senate and Assembly Operating Funds to return any unused funds to the General Fund. Portantino said the Assembly is violating its own rules by not conducting a Performance Audit.
In his testimony Portantino quoted the San Francisco Chronicle, "The Assembly leadership has demonstrated that it cannot be trusted to give anything resembling a forthright accounting of how these politicians are spending our money. It's time for an independent audit of the Assembly's books."
Source: Portantino press release
Why it does not surprise me!
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