State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is realistic about the likelihood of her proposal to review the finances of the Legislature being accepted on Beacon Hill. She is approaching a legislative hearing next week with cautious optimism.
DiZoglio is set to appear before a committee on Tuesday to present her proposed ballot question that would authorize the state auditor’s office to examine the Legislature. This idea has faced strong opposition from top Democrats at the State House.
The former senator and representative acknowledged that based on past experiences, the Legislature is unlikely to support this proposal, and the reviewing committee is unlikely to approve it either.
“It is highly unusual for individuals assigned to committees as important as this one to oppose legislative leaders. So we know what we’re walking into. But I still think it’s important to show up and express our perspective,” DiZoglio told the Herald in an interview Friday afternoon.
DiZoglio has clashed with both House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka over her efforts to conduct a legislative audit. She argues that this is necessary due to the often secretive nature of the Legislature.
Mariano and Spilka have rejected DiZoglio's requests to participate in an audit, claiming that both of the branches they lead are already regularly reviewed and that granting the auditor the power to examine internal records would violate the state constitution.
In a March 2023 letter to DiZoglio, Mariano stated that the auditor’s office does not have legal authority to conduct an audit of the Legislature.
After Attorney General Andrea Campbell declined to approve legal action last year to force the Legislature to comply with an audit, DiZoglio turned to pursuing a ballot question. This campaign has already surmounted multiple signature challenges and raised over $300,000.
Before the question reaches voters in November, the Legislature has the opportunity to take action on the proposal. If lawmakers choose not to act, supporters of potential ballot questions must gather more signatures.
Mariano and Spilka assembled a committee to review all potential ballot questions led by Sen. Cindy Friendman and Rep. Alice Peisch.
DiZoglio’s chance to persuade lawmakers that they should allow her to examine the finances, procedures, and inner workings of the House and Senate is scheduled for a 10 a.m. hearing on Tuesday at the State House.
DiZoglio said she is focusing more on pushing her audit questions toward being included on the ballot than on lobbying legislators to pass the measure as a bill, an option they still have.
“Just like when I was in the Legislature, even if a bill failed repeatedly, such as the nondisclosure agreement legislation that I tried to pass, I didn’t give up on advocating for it while knowing that certain members of leadership were still going to oppose the bill,” she said.
