California’s insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara, is facing growing questions after reports revealed that taxpayers have been footing the bill for dozens of expensive international trips he took in recent years. The state’s ethics watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), has launched a review into the matter following concerns over the costs and lack of clear business reasons for many of these travels.
Since 2019, Lara has reportedly taken at least 48 trips abroad, according to records obtained by ABC7. Of those, only a handful have detailed explanations tied to official insurance business. Taxpayer money covered luxurious expenses such as five-star hotels, upgraded flights, and private transportation. The full documentation for many trips, including visits to countries like Egypt, Chile, Singapore, and Ireland, remains missing.
The costs have raised eyebrows, especially once security expenses were added. Some trips, which reportedly had no insurance-related meetings, ended up costing five times more than initially thought due to private security and high-end accommodations. For example, a five-day visit to Colombia for an LGBTQ political leaders’ event topped $24,000, with over $7,000 spent on what was described as “taxi fares” linked to security.
Former California HR manager Ray Asbell expressed skepticism about the justification for these travels. He said state travel should have a clear “mission critical” purpose, and he doubts these trips met that standard. The controversy has sparked calls in Sacramento for more accountability. Assemblymember Greg Wallis, vice chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee, has asked for a formal state audit, emphasizing the need to clearly identify the benefits of government travel.
Some political voices have acknowledged that Lara’s security costs might be higher because he is the state’s first openly gay statewide official, facing increased risks. Former Assemblymember Evan Low, now CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, noted the reality of threats against LGBTQ leaders, but stressed that public funds still require solid justification.
Lara’s office defended the trips as necessary for California’s role in global insurance talks, covering important topics like climate risk and health coverage. Deputy Commissioner Michael Soller pointed to initiatives such as the California Safe Homes Act, aimed at supporting wildfire resilience, as examples of the office’s work on these trips.
Comparisons with other officials highlight the scale of spending. Assembly Insurance Committee Chair Lisa Calderon, for example, spends less than $19,000 a year on travel. Yet Lara’s security detail for a single South Africa trip cost over $33,000. Former commissioners took far fewer trips; records show Dave Jones made just five international trips during his time in office, compared to more than 20 for Lara.
The FPPC’s inquiry raises broader questions about transparency and ethics. Critics say many conferences and networking events could have been attended virtually, which would be much cheaper. Public frustration is growing as lawmakers consider holding formal hearings to dig deeper into the spending. Political analyst Nolan Higdon from UC Santa Cruz said people have many questions, especially about whether such large price tags are truly necessary.
Lara has not spoken to the media, but his office maintains full compliance with reporting rules and security protocols. With lawmakers pushing for answers and the FPPC investigation ongoing, the spotlight on Lara’s travel will likely continue for months to come.