This week, Spectrum News 1 is diving into the ballot questions voters in Massachusetts will get to decide on. Question 1 is focused on transparency at the State House. 

State Auditor Diana Dizoglio has walked across the state campaigning for “Yes on Question 1.” She wants her office to be able to audit the State Legislature. She says the question is necessary because those who are in power are refusing to recognize her office’s authority.

“Question one would make explicit that the state auditor's office has the authority to audit our state legislature," Dizoglio said. "We have conducted over 100 audits since the inception of my office back in 1849. It's only been in recent years that some legislative leaders who are incredibly powerful right now, have refused to cooperate with the audits.”

Opponents to question one say the separation of powers includes the legislature isn’t subject to oversight from the executive branch. Legislative leaders say they don’t believe this is something the auditor should be focused on. 

“The auditor is singularly focused on the upcoming election and promoting her ballot question, while the legislature has been busy doing the people’s business: passing legislation...” a statement from the Senate President’s Office reads in part. “With due respect to the auditor, we’ll keep our focus there.”

And a spokesperson for the House Speaker Ron Mariano echoed the authority argument:

“The Speaker maintains the position that the Auditor lacks the statutory and constitutional authority to audit the Legislature, a separate branch of government.” 

Dizoglio says the legislative branch should be transparent to both her office and to the public. This includes how lawmakers are appointed to committees, how rules are set and what the legislature is doing with taxpayer money and why. 

“It's our taxpayer dollars that is the people's house, not the politician's house," Dizoglio said. "And we the people deserve an accountable state government, including our legislature."

A yes-vote would codify into law that the Office of the Auditor can audit the legislature. 

A no-vote would leave things the way they are.