Auditor Diana DiZoglio, recently given approval by Massachusetts voters to audit the Legislature, has informed top Beacon Hill leaders that her office will be conducting a performance audit of both branches and joint committees. In a letter to House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka, DiZoglio expressed her intention to review high-risk areas such as state contracting and procurement procedures, use of taxpayer-funded nondisclosure agreements, and financial receipts. She noted that the branches had previously refused to participate in the audit process.
DiZoglio’s office released its initial attempt at auditing the Legislature 15 days before Election Day, where they highlighted the lack of independent financial audits and criticized the transparency of the Legislature’s website. Despite objections from Mariano and Spilka, nearly 72% of voters supported Question 1, giving DiZoglio explicit authority to audit the Legislature.
In her letter, DiZoglio emphasized the need for prompt action from lawmakers and outlined the process for the audit, including the opportunity for lawmakers to review and comment on the draft copy. The audit will be based on Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards.
Mariano and Spilka had previously hinted at a possible amendment to Question 1 if it passed, but did not provide a clear plan following the election. The 28% of voters who rejected Question 1 left the door open for potential changes, but the leaders’ statement emphasized respecting the election results in a manner that aligns with the Massachusetts Constitution.
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