California taxpayers paid more than $12,000 due to an accidentAlan Nakanishi was in when he served in the Assembly, according tothe California Department of General Services’ subdepartment spokesmanEric Lamoureux.
Additionally, Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, whosedistrict includes Galt and Thornton, filed a $2,008 claim on Sept.15, 2010 after her state-issued automobile was strike whilst parked, Lamoureuxsaid.
Taxpayers paid more than three-quarters of a million dollars for122 insurance claims filed by legislators in from 2007 to 2010.
The Sacramento Bee reported Thursday that the CaliforniaCitizens Compensation Commission voted to remove state-issuedcars for legislators, efficient the initial week of December.Instead, legislators will obtain a $300 monthly automobile stipend to drivetheir own vehicles, The Bee reported.
Nakanishi’s collision took place in 2007 on Ham Lane nearby theformer Lakewood Drugs, Lamoureux and Nakanishi said.
Nakanishi, who termed out of the Assembly in 2008 and is right away aLodi councilman, mentioned in a write talk that he was headedto his Lodi office on West Pine Street ” whilst on authorized statebusiness ” when an approaching automobile that was going as well swift strike hisvehicle on the right side.
Nakanishi done a left spin in front of the approaching car. Aninvestigation by the Assembly Rules Committee gritty thatNakanishi done an vulnerable turn.
“I didn’t regard we was at fault,” Nakanishi said.
Nevertheless, taxpayers footed the bill for $12,461.
Legislators entangled in an accident, or if their state-approvedcar is vandalized, contingency record a claim with the Rules Committee ofthe Assembly or State Senate ” yes or no residence the legislatorhappens to serve, Lamoureux said.
The Rules Committee staff investigates the claim, and if itappears to be valid, it authorizes the van to be sent to anauto correct or body shop, often in the legislator’s district.Then it’s forwarded to the Department of General Services forpayment by the state’s self-insurance account unless the otherparty is at fault. Then money is composed from the other driver’sinsurance company, Lamoureux said.
Contact contributor Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com .
