FRCMedia is conducting interviews with those in favor and opposed to the five ballot questions in this year’s State Election. Today we focus on Question 1, which would give the State Auditor the authority to audit the state legislature.
When she ran for State Auditor in 2022, one of Diana DiZoglio’s platforms was seeking to audit the state legislature. Having served in the state House and Senate before her election, Ms. DiZoglio claims the legislature has not always been transparent about how its money is spent or how it operates.
Once elected auditor, Ms. DiZolgio sought permission to audit the legislature. Her request was denied by House and Senate leadership. Taking the legislature to court was also rejected, so Ms. DiZoglio worked with the Committee for Transparent Democracy to put the matter before voters.
Ms. DiZoglio says auditing the legislature is not uncommon in other states, and has also been done in the Commonwealth in the past.
FRCMedia was unable to speak with a representative of those opposing Question 1. They argue that if passed the auditor would have broad authority over what she could investigate, jeopardizing the separation of powers clause in the state constitution between the executive and legislative branches of government. The law would also allow for an audit without the legislature’s consent, which has not existed in other states.
Ms. DiZoglio replied that state law dictates the limited scope of work any audit of the legislature would entail.
