By Bob Katzen

The House 24-127, rejected an amendment that would require the state auditor, currently Diana DiZoglio, to conduct an annual audit of the House. This requirement was approved by the voters on Question 1 on the November 2024 ballot. The amendment would replace a House rule that the state auditor would recommend a firm to conduct an annual audit of the House and the business manager of the House would hire that firm.

“In November of 2024, Question 1 was overwhelmingly approved with the support of nearly 72 percent of the state’s voters who cast a ballot,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This amendment would honor the will of the voters by allowing the state auditor to conduct these annual audits of the House in compliance with Question 1.”

“Every city and town in the commonwealth voted for this question to be the law,” said Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica). “Unfortunately, essentially on party lines, the House Democrats defeated the amendment and once again refused to comply with the will of the voters. Beacon Hill Democrats need to end this inter-governmental feud and finally respect the voters and give them the transparency they demand and deserve.”

Rep. Michael Day (D-Stoneham) said this new rule would violate the separation of power in the constitution. He noted that Article 30 says the legislative department shall never exercise the executive and judicial powers, the executive shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, and the judicial shall never exercise the legislative and executive powers.

Day also noted that the House rule that requires the House to hire a firm recommended by the state auditor is sufficient.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring the state auditor to conduct an annual audit. A “No” vote is against the amendment.)

Rep. Christine Barber No Rep. Mike Connolly No Rep. Paul Donato No Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven No