legislative audit – House Speaker Ron Mariano defended a bill that would narrow the State Auditor’s audit authority to administrative functions, setting up a new battle with State Auditor Diana DiZoglio. DiZoglio says the measure strips the courts of power to hold leaders account
For years, the legislative audit fight has played out in speeches, lawsuits, and online sparring. This month, it also landed on the floor of the House—where Speaker Ron Mariano stepped up to defend a bill he says will make the process clearer, not less transparent.
The bill passed earlier this month by House lawmakers would amend the auditor’s authority. It would let the State Auditor examine the Legislature’s “administrative functions,” while barring her from delving into “constitutional functions.”
Those “administrative functions” include four categories of documents: budgets of the House and Senate; outside audits; the expenditure of funds by either chamber on their operations; and monetary settlement agreements entered into by either chamber with current or former employees.
Mariano’s defense tracks the thrust of DiZoglio’s lawsuit against legislative leaders. DiZoglio is seeking documents she says the auditor’s office should be able to obtain. and the bill’s listed administrative categories match the kinds of records she has said she is attempting to acquire. Even so, DiZoglio has publicly said she intends to request additional types of documents in the future.
House lawmakers say the bill is designed to move the fight out of the courts and into a defined process. The measure creates a “dispute resolution process” that “avoids endless and costly litigation.” It also bars judicial review of any dispute that may arise during an audit, according to lawmakers.
Mariano further argues the legislation would expand public access rather than shut it down. The bill would place the governor’s office under existing public records law for the first time. The Legislature would remain exempt, except for 17 categories of information—many of which are already available to the public.
That distinction matters because DiZoglio is also backing a ballot question this fall that would subject the governor’s office and the Legislature to public records law.
In an opinion piece published in CommonWealth Beacon Saturday, Mariano framed the bill as a step toward transparency that would not violate the constitutional separation of powers. He pointed to organizations like the ACLU of Massachusetts, which helped craft the legislation.
Gavi Wolfe, the ACLU of Massachusetts legislative director, argued recently that placing the Legislature under existing public records law could lead to legal questions of enforceability that risk “infinitely delayed implementation while litigation plays out.”
Mariano’s most pointed argument, however, is aimed beyond the bill itself. He said the audit fight has been distorted by what he called “misinformation” in media coverage and online chatter for the past three years.
“For some time now, there has been no better example in Massachusetts politics of the chasm that exists between what is actually true, and what the loudest voices are willing to say for their own personal gain, than the legislative audit spectacle,” Mariano wrote.
He blamed DiZoglio for taking advantage of the media ecosystem to spread bad information and personal attacks. Mariano called those actions “performative,” and said they should not be confused with genuine attempts to reform the system.
He wrote: “The auditor’s comments about this issue, and the institution she seeks to audit, demonstrate that this saga has always been fueled by political ambition and personal grievances.”
Mariano also said he has received death threats over the issue. He said the controversy has gained traction online among some “MAGA Republicans.”
He urged media members to include basic facts that he says are being overlooked: that the House is audited every year; and that “every single dollar that the Legislature spends is already publicly available on the comptroller’s website.”
DiZoglio responded sharply. In a statement replying to Mariano’s CommonWealth Beacon piece, she said: “The Speaker continues to engage in public corruption and should resign, effective immediately.”
DiZoglio accused Mariano of “constant personal attacks, gaslighting and lies” meant to distract from what she described as “his lawbreaking behavior.” She said the bill is unconstitutional and “strips the courts of their power to hold the Speaker and Legislature accountable to the People.”
“It is imperative that the Governor stand up for the People by committing to veto the Speaker’s unconstitutional power grab,” DiZoglio said.
In a video posted online just before the House vote. DiZoglio said she was “deeply disturbed” by the actions of House lawmakers. “I don’t recognize our state Legislature right now. I don’t recognize what they are doing right now as being anything even close to what a democratic government looks like. ” she said. DiZoglio added: “This is not a step in the right direction, this is craziness. This is what authoritarianism looks like.”.
The bill gives Mariano a direct path to limit what the auditor can investigate under the amended authority—while DiZoglio is left arguing the Legislature and its leaders still deserve broader oversight and continued access to the courts. The fight now shifts. in large part. to who can define transparency for voters: a narrow. process-driven audit under the bill. or a broader public records fight tied to the ballot question DiZoglio supports.
Ron Mariano Diana DiZoglio legislative audit public records law Massachusetts House State Auditor CommonWealth Beacon ACLU of Massachusetts court review dispute resolution process