By Bob Katzen
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio sent a letter last week to top Beacon Hill Democrats, including House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) and Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), demanding that they comply with her plans for an audit of the Legislature. DiZoglio’s letter comes after voters in November approved Ballot Question 1 asking them if they favor allowing the state auditor to audit the Legislature.
“Our audit will cover all of the topics we were unable to fully review in our previous audit, due to your [earlier] refusal to participate in the audit process,” wrote DiZoglio. “Our work will start with a review of high-risk areas, such as state contracting and procurement procedures, the use of taxpayer-funded nondisclosure agreements and a review of your balance forward line item – including a review of all relevant financial receipts and information.”
Mariano’s opposition to the audit goes back several years. In March 2023, he said in a letter to DiZoglio, “That your office has the legal authority to conduct an audit of the General Court is a claim entirely without legal support or precedent, as it runs contrary to multiple, explicit provisions of the Massachusetts Constitution and is wholly unnecessary as the public currently has full and ready access to the House’s financial information.”
A new debate began last week about when the voter-approved law actually takes effect. DiZoglio at a press conference said that it takes effect on Dec. 5, marking 30 days from the November 5th election. Secretary of State Bill Galvin disagrees and maintains the law takes effect on January 4th — 30 days from the December 4 certification of the November election results.