DALTON, Mass. — Transparency is not a one-party issue, and democracy is also "under attack" here in Massachusetts, not just at the federal level, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said during a presentation to the Dalton Democratic Town Committee.

 

More than a dozen people filled Nessacus Regional Middle School's auditorium Thursday as DiZoglio outlined her belief that power on Beacon Hill has become concentrated among a small number of House leaders, limiting legislative debate and creating what she described as a system of "rewards and punishment" to influence lawmakers.

 

"That system is really destroying democracy here in Massachusetts," she said.

 

The system was designed with a system of checks and balances, including giving the people a right to create laws at the ballot box, DiZoglio said.

 

"We have the right to vote for our elected representatives and senators to represent us and to be our voice at the state house. The people have constitutional rights in this commonwealth, but the people's rights are being ignored over and over and over again," she said

 

"This isn't about liberal, moderate, conservative. This is an everyone issue. That's why you see so many people coming out and supporting these transparency issues, regardless of party affiliation."

 

Since being elected in 2022, DiZoglio has been advocating for more transparency and accountability within the Legislature, specifically through the 2024 Question 1 ballot question which authorizes the state auditor to audit the Legislature.

 

This is something that is considered routine in other states, and it was done in Massachusetts by the State Auditor's Office until the early 1990s when the legislative leadership decided to no longer allow these audits to take place, DiZoglio said in October 2024, during her advocacy prior to the vote on the ballot question. 

 

The question overwhelmingly passed by about 72 percent, however the implementation of the law has become tied up in a legal dispute over the auditor's authority and access to legislative records. 

 

In May, Attorney General Andrea Campbell authorized DiZoglio to proceed with litigation over four limited categories of legislative records identified in an Supreme Judicial Court order, including chamber budgets, audits, balance-forward transactions and certain monetary agreements from fiscal years 2021 through 2024. 

 

DiZoglio is also advocating for the new Question 1 on the Nov. 3 ballot, which would subject most legislative and governor's office records to the state's public records law, with certain exemptions.

 

"Every city and town in this commonwealth is subject to the state's public records law. Every community in this region in this state is subject to the state's public records law, and every state agency is subject to the state's public records law," DiZoglio said.

 

"But you know what, the Legislature, governor's office, and judiciary exempt themselves with blanket exemptions. We are the only state in the nation that allows for all three of those branches to exempt themselves."

 

"Massachusetts, the bastion of liberty and justice. Here in Blue Massachusetts, we are the only state in the nation where that is the case, where those three branches exempt themselves from basic transparency laws, and we have an opportunity right now to change that."

 

Both ballot questions are "under attack" by the legislator, DiZoglio said

 

"They have voted to overturn both of those questions, they have voted to overturn the audit law and give the power to audit to the speaker, not to the auditor's office," she said.

 

"It does not limit the audit; it gives the power to the speaker to do the audit and to only give me what he wants. No legitimate audit will be conducted if that bill is signed by the governor. Number two, they voted to also overturn the upcoming ballot question before we have even taken a vote. They voted in the House and in the Senate."

 

DiZoglio said lawmakers have voted to not follow any other laws on public records besides the one that they voted for recently, which she said would continue shielding records such as taxpayer-funded financial receipts and state contracting information in a space where it is available to the general public.

 

"Friends, this is about making sure that our voices still matter, and that elections still count, and that we preserve our democratic form of government.

 

DiZoglio said she has called on Gov. Maura Healey to veto the legislation but has not yet received a response. She urged attendees to contact the governor and emphasize the need for transparency.

 

"Please ask her to commit to vetoing the legislation that seeks to overturn the will of the people on the much-needed transparency and accountability on Beacon Hill, not just because of an audit or just because of one public records law, but because we believe in democracy and the Democratic Party," DiZoglio said.

 

Massachusetts is the state of firsts in many things, proud to be leading in so many areas, but it is not perfect, she said.

 

The state is last in the nation in respect to transparency resulting in significant problems that have allowed for "a few people with way too much power to become corrupted in their style."

 

This is hurting the everyday people and "blocking very important pieces of legislation from being considered from the entire membership of your elected representatives and senators," DiZoglio said. "That is not the democratic form of government that Massachusetts deserves. We have work to do."