Massachusetts State Auditor Rejects Senate Hearing Invitation

By Alison Kuznitz

Auditor Diana DiZoglio said Friday her office will not participate in a Senate subcommittee hearing next month focused on the voter law that authorizes the Methuen Democrat to probe the Legislature.

“We’re not accepting the invitation,” DiZoglio told the News Service. “Our office has work to do, and this is a meeting for the courts to decide.”

She added, “It is very clear that this is just another maneuver and tactic to get out of following the 72% voter-approved mandate that our office conduct an audit of the state Legislature.”

The Sen. Cindy Friedman-led committee announced the hearing Wednesday, as senators accused DiZoglio’s office of not answering their questions about the audit. Friedman did not specify who would be invited to testify.

Beacon Hill Democrats have repeatedly bucked DiZoglio’s auditing quest, citing constitutional concerns relating to separation of power.

“The Subcommittee needs answers to these fundamental questions and will be conducting a hearing to seek input and guidance relative to the implementation of Chapter 250,” Friedman had said in a statement. “We will seek testimony representing a broad range of perspectives on the issues of constitutionality, scope, and conflict of interest as they relate to the Subcommittee’s outstanding inquiries. The Subcommittee will be announcing the hearing date soon with an expectation of convening the hearing in March.”

DiZoglio on social media has accused senators of holding a “trial” and violating constitutional separation of power by “exercising the powers of the judiciary.”

“Please contact @MassAGO to tell her that Senators aren’t judges and we will not tolerate a kangaroo court, purported as a hearing, making decisions about constitutionality of the law they themselves are breaking,” DiZoglio said in a tweet Friday, which featured an image of kangaroos wearing court wigs.

DiZoglio said her office has not yet filed a writ of mandamus, which could end the ongoing stalemate and force Attorney General Andrea Campbell to take a stance on enforcing the voter law.