Auditor Diana DiZoglio on Monday escalated her long fight with the Legislature, publishing a report slamming lawmakers for a lack of transparency that the top House Democrat derided as 'pure political self-promotion and electioneering.'
Auditor Diana DiZoglio on Monday escalated her long fight with the Legislature, publishing a report slamming lawmakers for a lack of transparency that the top House Democrat derided as"pure political self-promotion and electioneering.
Both House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka fired back, renewing arguments that DiZoglio's office lacks the authority to forcefully audit the Legislature without violating the constitutional separation of powers. The new report from DiZoglio's office made findings in only three of eight original areas of focus: publication of annual financial audits into the Legislature, information about pending and enacted bills available on the Legislature's website, and the lack of a"legislative services" office to support lawmakers.
Auditors said the House and Senate did not ensure independent financial audits of their operations were completed for fiscal years 2021 and 2022. They also said the Senate only posted its fiscal 2021 audit online — but still refused to file it with DiZoglio's office — after the auditor's team pointed out it was missing.
The Bay State once had a Legislative Research Bureau, auditors said, but the report said no records of that office exist beyond the 1990s and a 2012 state law repealed relevant statutes.
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