DiZoglio, a Democrat and former member of both the Massachusetts House and Senate, is filing a complaint with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to enforce a 2024 ballot measure that authorized her office to audit the legislature. The measure passed with 72% support.
The legal action follows a report from the Massachusetts State Auditor’s Office identifying nearly $12 million in alleged fraud in fiscal year 2025 alone across several public assistance programs.State Auditor Diana DiZoglio speaks to reporters at the State House in Boston, Mass. on Jan. 28, 2025. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
DiZoglio notified legislative leaders earlier this year of her intent to conduct a performance audit but said House and Senate leaders refused to provide the necessary documents. She added that the state attorney general declined to intervene.
« This is something that 72% of voters came out to support, crossing party lines, » she said.
« You had progressive Democrats joining together with conservative Republicans. And essentially saying that they want this audit to get done. »
According to the auditor, Massachusetts is the only state in the nation where the legislature, governor’s office and court system exempt themselves from the state’s public records law.
She argues the newly approved audit authority would bring long-sought transparency to taxpayer-funded records, including financial receipts and state contracts.
« This is about transparency and accountability, » DiZoglio added.
