"The escalation came about 15 months after nearly 72 percent of Massachusetts voters approved of a ballot measure specifying that the state auditor has the authority to audit the Legislature. DiZoglio sued legislative leaders earlier this month, asking a single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to compel the lawmakers to comply with an audit."
"By law, Campbell represents the state in all court matters. But she has repeatedly declined to get involved, saying that DiZoglio's office has refused to provide answers to straightforward questions about a potential audit. House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka have also continuously rebuffed DiZoglio's efforts, arguing that the audit she is planning could violate state law regarding the separation of powers and voicing concerns about privacy."
"Campbell's office moved to strike the lawsuit last week, arguing that her office is the 'gatekeeper' that is empowered to determine when the state's intergovernmental legal disputes require a judicial resolution. 'There would be no gate at all were mere disagreement with the Attorney General sufficient basis for a dissenting state official to initiate a lawsuit,' Campbell's office wrote."
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio filed an emergency motion with Massachusetts' highest court after Attorney General Andrea Campbell attempted to strike her lawsuit against legislative leaders. DiZoglio seeks to compel lawmakers to comply with an audit, following voter approval of a ballot measure granting the auditor authority to audit the Legislature. Campbell declined involvement, claiming DiZoglio's office refused to answer questions about the audit. House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka rejected the audit, citing separation of powers concerns and privacy issues. Campbell argued DiZoglio lacks authority to file the lawsuit and characterized it as a ploy to bypass required approval from her office, which she described as the legal gatekeeper for state intergovernmental disputes.
Read at Boston.com
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