California officials mum on why it would cost ‘billions’ to shield prison workers from heat

More than a month after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration delayed a workplace indoor heat rule because it might be too expensive for the state prison system, state officials are refusing to release records showing how they made that decision. 

The Department of Finance said Wednesday it’s withholding records of any cost estimates it has conducted over the proposed workplace rule or received from other state agencies, plus communications between prison and finance officials over those costs.