GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is advocating for more transparency and accountability within the Massachusetts Legislature, one step at a time. 

 

This week, DiZoglio will be walking from Berkshire County to Boston to raise awareness for ballot question one, which would give the auditor the authority to audit the Legislature. 

 

This is something that is considered routine in other states, and it was done in Massachusetts by the State Auditor's Office until the early 1990s when the legislative leadership decided to no longer allow these audits to take place, DiZoglio said on Friday, as she started her journey. 

 

"I talked to the state auditor in Connecticut who said that they audit their state legislature so often as a matter of routine that it barely makes the press because it's such a matter of routine," she said. 

 

The ballot question would subject the Legislature to the same level of public oversight and accountability as other government bodies, DiZoglio said. 

 

"We are ranked as the least transparent state legislature in the nation even as a state that is as progressive and forward-thinking as Massachusetts. We do continue to be ranked dead last by most good government groups regarding transparency and accountability," she said. 

 

"So, this ballot measure seeks to open up the doors, let the sun shine in, and make sure that they get audited the same way that every other state entity gets audited."