The office of the Secretary of State in Massachusetts is facing controversy over the implementation date of a legislative audit law championed by Auditor Diana DiZoglio. A document from the Secretary of State’s Office indicated that the law would take effect 30 days after the 2024 election, which DiZoglio has used to push for an immediate audit of the Legislature. However, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State has suggested that there may have been an error in the document.
DiZoglio has argued that the law should have taken effect on December 5, citing both the document from the Secretary of State’s Office and a provision in the state constitution. The Secretary of State’s office, however, acknowledges that there is ambiguity in the constitution regarding the effective date of voter-backed laws.
Despite resistance from legislative leaders, DiZoglio is moving forward with her efforts to audit the Legislature. She has requested legal action against the House and Senate to force compliance with the audit law, but the Attorney General has rejected this request, citing that the law is not yet in effect.
Critics, including the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, have accused the Secretary of State of changing dates to accommodate powerful legislative leaders. The situation has escalated into a legal battle, with DiZoglio continuing to push for the audit despite opposition from the Legislature.
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