Crack open the books!
Legislature to undergo first audit in 100 years
In a rarity on Beacon Hill, Auditor Diana DiZoglio announced she has started the first audit of the state Legislature in over a century.
“We hope this will increase transparency, accountability and equity in an area of state government that has been completely ignored. Historically, the Legislature has been a closeddoor operation, where committee votes have been hidden from the general public, and legislation has been voted on in the dark of night,” DiZoglio said in a statement.
According to the former state Senator from Methuen, the state’s lawmakers have, for too long, gone without any sort of oversight in their dealings.
“Unfortunately, the Legislature has not been audited since 1922, while Massachusetts ranks as one of the least transparent and least accessible state governments in the nation,” she said.
DiZoglio, who frequently promised an audit of the Legislature while campaigning for office, told the Herald she is not at liberty to say just exactly what she’s looking into, for now.
“National Government Auditing Standards prevent us from disclosing details about audit topics before the audit is complete so as to not compromise the integrity of the audit,” she said via text message. “Regarding audit topics for this particular audit, I must refer you to my statement but look forward to discussing these topics in full with you once the audit is complete.”
It is unclear if the Auditor has the authority to investigate the workings of the Legislature.
Former Auditor Suzanne Bump said before her departure the Legislature was not listed among the over 200 state departments and agencies subject to the auditor’s oversight and noted the state House and Senate are not merely government agencies but comprise their own branch of the government.
It is also unclear whether the Legislature will even allow itself to be subject to an audit. House Speaker Ron Mariano’s office did not offer comment when asked about the idea and Senate President Karen Spilka’s office did not reply by press time.
None of that, apparently, is stopping DiZoglio, who can at least claim she was sent into office with a mandate to do exactly what she is now attempting.
“It is my hope that the Legislature welcomes the opportunity for an audit to uncover where we can, and must, do better as a state government,” she said. “Our office looks forward to working with them.”