Will the Supreme Judicial Court get involved with legislative audit questions?
BOSTON (WWLP) – As the state auditor and the legislature continue to go back and forth on a potential audit, democrat leadership says they have no interest in asking the Supreme Judicial Court for an opinion.
Since the passage of a ballot question authorizing the state auditor to examine the finances of the legislature, lawmakers have argued that it would violate the separation of powers clause of the constitution.
Advocates look to expand tax credits for low-income immigrant families
After a Monday afternoon leadership meeting, the House Speaker was adamant that he will not be seeking an opinion on the audit's constitutionality from the state's highest court, as he said 'things are going fine' with their current independent auditor.
'You have to understand, why would we ask for an opinion from the SJC? Because she's the one that's driving the question,' said House Speaker Ron Mariano. 'She's the one that campaigned for the question. She was the one out knocking doors for the question. She was the one with the personal investment in the question.'
Auditor DiZoglio continues to say the legislature is breaking the law, saying in a statement, 'The most powerful man in state government is being allowed to break the law that 72% of you voted for by telling you it's my fault.'
The Senate president pointed to her branch's subcommittee examining the potential audit, also expressing disinterest in looping in the courts.
'We've asked the auditor to answer, most of it she has refused to answer,' said Senate President Karen Spilka. 'So that's why we are having the hearing,'
The auditor continues to call for Attorney General Campbell to step in, but the AG says she is waiting on information from the auditor's office before she can proceed.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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