by David Taub

Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno/Clovis) has been sounding the horn on the High-Speed Rail project ever since its inception. He has warned of the catastrophic costs to taxpayers. The project, supported by the likes of Governor Jerry Brown and Fresno mayor Ashley Swearengin, moved ahead.

If stopping the project wasn’t an option, Patterson at least wanted accountability. So, he drafted AB 2847 to provide some public disclosures and accountability. Unlike most bills in Sacramento, this received bipartisan support and passed both chambers.

But, Brown said no. He vetoed the bill this week, saying it was not necessary.

Patterson unsurprisingly was unhappy.

“This is not just a veto of a bill. It is a veto of Governor Brown’s responsibility to the people and to the legislature. This bill wasn’t something conjured up by a High-Speed Rail critic – it was a solid recommendation by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office,” he wrote in a news release.

More details can be found in the LA Times.