Inspector General Laura Chick calls for public access to state audit results [Updated]

State Inspector General Laura Chick called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today to order agencies to disclose the results of hundreds of internal audits that have been kept from the public despite a promise of new transparency.

"It has come to my attention ... that hundreds of valuable and important reports conducted by state departments and agencies are not yet included on your transparency web-site," Chick wrote to the governor.

"By applying the narrow and technical definition of 'audits,' departments have excluded ... critical reports that remain off-line and out of public view," she wrote.

One 2008 report by the state's Employment Development Department found that the Work Investment Board of Los Angeles County failed to comply with rules governing contract payments, executive salary limits and monitoring of receipts.

"There is no reason why this public document should not be shared with the people of California, who not only paid for the report but also paid for the original grant with their [taxpayer] dollars," Chick wrote.

Another report last year found problems with an agency that provided energy efficiency services to low-income residents in L.A. County. The investigation of Veterans In Community Services found $1.8 million in disallowed costs, kickbacks and fraud.

"Though millions of taxpayer dollars have gone to this agency, and the case has since been closed; the report is not posted on your web-site, hidden out of public view," Chick wrote.

[Updated 4:23: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered all inspections and audits by state agencies to be posted on the state website today after Chick complained.

 “Bureaucratic and technical excuses for not posting reports will not be tolerated,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement released by his office.]

-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Comments

[sirene]

We are fortunate to have Laura Chick - we miss her in Los Angeles, but it looks like she can do a lot of good at the state level as well.

[You Go Girl]

Keep at it, Laura! We need people like you to continue to shine a light on the roaches that operate in the shadows of our government!

[Ramon]

Of course the Political Hacks in Los Angeles do not want this report to come out. They would be exposed for the ineptetude that they posses as so called leaders. They are nothing more than hacks who know the right people who have the money to get them elected. It's time for a change.

[johnjohn]

Our inept governor is too busy wasting the time of firefighters and going to every photo op he can to worry about what the taxpayers want. I'm not really sure why idiots seem to love electing actors to political positions. Thank god for Laura Chick. And what's the governor trying to hide?

Is it too late to impeach Schwartzenegger?

[Go girl]

Laura Chick for State Controller!!!!

[Observer27]

The EDD audit report Ms. Chick refers to was published in 2008, which means that whatever occurred happened before ARRA was implemented (in 2009). That being the case, I'm having problems understanding what she's complaining about. Ms. Chick was appointed as the Inspector General to oversee the expenditure of ARRA funds allocated to California. The situation described in your article above has nothing to do with ARRA funds, so what is her issue.

[HOMERUN]

Yes...thank you Laura Chick...please also consider higher office in the state as well...your attitude and commitment for us the non--public employees that seeks information evidence withheld from other public funded employees or agencies/departments...excellent ...Inspector General Laura Chick.

[dee]

Laura

We need a audit on our Mayor, is he taking control of Los
Angeles by putting his people at the top like they did in 1920.
The City Council needs to be impeached, they are a joke