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State Auditor Diana DiZoglio won overwhelming voter approval to regularly audit the legislature, while it remains to be seen what Senate and House leaders might do to nullify the public’s choice.
The landslide victory—roughly 2.1 million votes in favor to 842,000 against with 88% of the vote counted, crossed party lines. It delivers former state Sen. and Rep. DiZoglio, a sweeping charge that goes beyond simply looking at spending. The ballot question requires the state auditor to “audit the accounts, programs, activities and functions directly related to the aforementioned accounts of all departments, offices, commissions, institutions and activities of the commonwealth, including those of districts and authorities created by the general court and the general court itself, and including those of the income tax division of the department of revenue…”
“I am a believer in the power of government to do amazing things—to make life better for everyone, everywhere,” said DiZoglio. “I have seen that power first hand, but I’ve also seen the work that remains to build a state government that lives up to its values. Tonight’s victory is an opportunity for all of us to look forward and work to make our legislature better. The people of Massachusetts want the equity, transparency and accountability that a legislative audit would bring, not because of division or partisan lines, but because of our great potential to push forward progress together.”
Support on the left came from Progressive Massachusetts and on the right from Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance—two groups considered extreme opposites. Jonathan Cohn, policy director at Progressive Massachusetts, said “We know that a transparent, accountable government does best by everyone, and the victory for Yes on 1 is a critical step forward.” Paul Diego Craney, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, echoed the sentiment, adding “…we hope legislative leaders will accept the results of the election and obey the will of the voters. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the will of the voters is accepted.”
While opponents have argued the ballot question violates the separation of powers between state government branches, those in favor point to the principle of “checks and balances” to back their position.
In their own joint statement, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka late last night left the door open to changing the new law. “Consistent with how the legislature has moved forward with every voter-approved ballot question in the past, we will consider next steps regarding how to best respect the Question 1 election results in a manner that aligns with the fundamental principles of the Massachusetts Constitution, including separation of powers.”
Among other ballot questions, voters revoked using Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System—or MCAS—as a high school graduation requirement, allowed ride share drivers to unionize and rejected legalizing psychedelic substances as well as a question that would have made changes to the minimum wage of tipped workers.