No, that was not a Dianna DiZoglio victory lap.
The state auditor is smarter than that. She takes nothing with no consideration.
Her stroll across the Commonwealth final week was to be sure that the voting public is conscious of Query 1 which is on the poll Nov. 5.
“I am taking nothing for granted,” she mentioned.
“Right now, Massachusetts continues to be ranked as having the least transparent, least accessible, least accountable state Legislature in the nation,” DiZoglio mentioned as she concluded her weeklong strolling trek in Newton earlier than heading to the State Home Friday.
Her proposal would give her workplace the authority to audit the state Legislature. A “yes” vote will give her that energy. A “no” vote will make no change. The problem has rocked Beacon Hill.
It’s a State Home game-changer that, if permitted by the voters, which seems seemingly, will give DiZoglio the authority— in her phrases — to convey accountability and transparency to the workings of the Home and Senate.
The powerbrokers on the State Home — Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka — are and have been lifeless set in opposition to the proposal.
But they’ve been unable to cease it. Nor did they type any organized effort to marketing campaign in opposition to the proposal, which meant that every of the incumbent members of the Legislature had been on their very own on the problem.
The 2 leaders, in addition to others on the Hill, keep that the Legislature is a singular department of presidency that makes its personal guidelines which incorporates the authority to audit itself and that DiZoglio’s proposal is an infringement on that time-honored authority.
DiZoglio’s critics declare that the transfer is a “power grab” by DiZoglio who served in each the Home and Senate the place she continuously challenged and clashed with the management, like she is doing now, though they’re all Democrats.
Mariano on Monday known as DiZoglio’s effort “pure political self-promotion” after she launched a untimely scathing assessment of the Legislature.
The critics say that it’s payback for the best way DiZoglio was handled as a legislator, which DiZoglio denies. DiZoglio served three phrases within the Home and two within the Senate earlier than being elected auditor.
DiZoglio, 41, campaigned on the problem when she ran for auditor in 2022, after which made it the centerpiece of her workplace, regardless of opposition from Mariano and Spilka.
She additionally overcame different obstacles, like getting Lawyer Basic Andrea Campbell to certify its legality after which gathering 75,000 signatures to get the query on the poll.
Whereas she shouldn’t be the primary former Democrat legislator to function state auditor — there have been 4 earlier than her — she is the primary to name for a full-blown audit of the Legislature and the authority to do one.
And the Legislature is a simple goal. Whereas most voters are typically happy with their senator or consultant, which is why they elected them, they’re additionally much less happy with the establishment. The identical holds true for Congress and different legislative our bodies.
The Romans in all probability felt the identical manner about their senators within the Roman Republic.
Whereas Query 1 is anticipated to be permitted as regulation, the battle may proceed if the Legislature is up for it.
For example, if permitted, it may nonetheless be challenged in courtroom, though that is unlikely given Lawyer Basic Campbell’s prior ruling.
Nonetheless, the Legislature which makes legal guidelines, may also repeal legal guidelines.
There’s nothing to cease a legislator from submitting a invoice to kill the brand new regulation. It will take a whole lot of chutzpah, in fact, however all it could must move is a nod from Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka and an unrecorded voice vote.
It will then go to Gov. Maura Healey, a fellow Democrat, for her signature.
As a lot as Healey respects the Legislature, she respects the desire of the voting public extra. So, she would in all probability veto the invoice.
The Legislature may then vote to override her veto. However this, not like a voice vote, would require a recorded roll name vote. A vote to override the veto and the desire of the individuals can be political suicide.
Chalk this one as a win for DiZoglio.
Peter Lucas is a veteran political reporter. E mail him at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
