WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:05.559 It's Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm WBS Costs Radio. 2 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:13.039 All right, welcome back everyone. I think most of my 3 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:17.559 audience knows the story that we're about to discuss with 4 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:23.039 State Auditor, the Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Auditor 5 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:27.559 Diana Desaglio, Auditor Dozaglio, Welcome back to NIGHTSID. 6 00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:30.640 How are you, Dan, Thanks so much for having me 7 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:32.840 back on. It's always great to be with you. 8 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:35.439 It's always great to have you on. You recently walked 9 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:38.840 across the state in order to bring some visibility to 10 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:41.640 the issue that is so important to you, and it's 11 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:47.280 a pretty simple request you're making. You, as the state Auditor, 12 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:52.240 want the opportunity to order the state legislature, of which 13 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:54.840 you have served in both houses, in both the State 14 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:58.039 House of Representatives and in the State Senate. But the 15 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:05.239 leadership has been somewhat resistant to your requests to audit 16 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:10.959 their books, which to me is a problem. You know 17 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:15.519 that I'm a big supporter of your effort here, and 18 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:21.319 you were successful. On November fifth, seventy two percent of 19 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:23.799 the record number of voters that went to the polls 20 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:30.439 supported your request, which really should be obvious to audit 21 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.239 the state Legislature, and I was surprised today you carried 22 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:39.400 with that issue, that ballot question three hundred and fifty 23 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:42.959 one out of the three hundred and fifty one Massachusetts 24 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:48.640 and cities and towns. You carried every community and the 25 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:52.959 state legislature. The leadership of the state legislature is trying 26 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.599 to throw a monkey wrench into the wishes and the 27 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:00.719 votes of their their stitchuents. 28 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:06.359 What's going on, Yeah, Dan, it's really unfortunate. And they're 29 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:13.360 not just somewhat opposing, they are humanly still opposing our 30 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:17.319 efforts to conduct an audit that not only was already 31 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.319 state lawe as a state law, as we demonstrated with 32 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:22.639 the over one hundred audits that our office has always 33 00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:26.960 conducted in the past, but now we passed this new 34 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:31.199 state law into law. Together with like you said, three 35 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:34.199 hundred and fifty one cities and towns voting in support. 36 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:38.199 We did not lose one community in Massachusetts. Seventy two 37 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:41.719 percent of the voters of Massachusetts spoke loud and clear 38 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:48.280 that they want increased transparency and accountability from our state legislature, 39 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:51.520 which is frequently ranked as one of the least if 40 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:55.719 not the least transparent state legislature and the entire nation. 41 00:02:56.199 --> 00:03:00.479 Our legislature exempts itself from public records laws, they exempt 42 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:04.240 themselves from open meeting laws. They are able to take 43 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:06.719 votes in the middle of the night with actually no 44 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:10.599 recorded role call votes and passed bills into law while 45 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:15.479 everybody's sleeping with no public hearings. It's no wonder why 46 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:19.280 we've been recently ranked as having one of the least efficient. Actually, 47 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:23.599 we've got the ranking of police efficient state legislature in 48 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:27.319 the entire nation just this last year. We've had a 49 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:31.840 late state budget for at least fourteen years. Friends, it's 50 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:35.800 time for change, and the voters did just vote for change. 51 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:38.800 Voters across Massachusetts came out, they spoke loud and clear, 52 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:43.000 they called on their elected leaders to change the status quo. 53 00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:50.680 And unfortunately, legislative leaders still have not gotten the message. 54 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:53.879 And they've actually done some work in recent weeks to 55 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:57.439 try to stemy the efforts of the auditor's office by 56 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:03.400 actually passing a rules change in their House of Representatives 57 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:10.719 to essentially try to signal that it's their intention to 58 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:14.080 try to replace the law essentially with their own version 59 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:18.839 of just hiring a private auditor. Controlling the process and 60 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:22.000 being able to decide what's examined, what's not examined, what's released, 61 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:24.560 what's not released, to be able to control the entire 62 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:28.680 scope of those audits and prevent some private firm from 63 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:31.759 being able to examine anything that they don't want them 64 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:35.399 to examine. Basically, they've been trying to state that they 65 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:39.040 believe that the same process they've always used is sufficient, 66 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:42.319 while friends, that's not acceptable. The voters spoke loud and clear, 67 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:45.720 so we are demanding access to what they are doing 68 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:47.120 with your tax dollars. 69 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.240 So now it looks to me, and I don't know 70 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:52.279 if you can agree with me or not, that it 71 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:54.279 looks to me as if they are trying to do 72 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:56.920 since we're in the middle of the football season, sort 73 00:04:56.920 --> 00:05:00.279 of an end around play. And what they're saying is 74 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:06.920 the voter spoke seventy two percent. Seventy two percent, I 75 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:10.839 mean that's like three nearly three out of four voters 76 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:14.680 said audit to allow the auditor to audit the legislature. 77 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:19.000 Yeah, I think I think Duncan donuts, Tom Brady when 78 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:22.399 he was here, and auditing the legislature are the only 79 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:25.399 things that have that that amount of percentage of support. 80 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:28.160 That's pretty incredible, pretty incredible. 81 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:32.120 Absolutely, So now we're going to try to make sure 82 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:37.040 people understand. So what the legislature is doing. They have said, well, 83 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:41.360 even though the state constitution says that questions on the 84 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:48.399 ballot become law thirty days after the vote in Massachusetts, 85 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:54.120 and if we count the days from November fifth, this 86 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:59.560 law giving you the ability to audit the legislature should 87 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:02.600 now be the law of the comal. But the legislature 88 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:06.879 has said, uh huh, it should We're going to say 89 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:12.519 it's thirty days from when the Secretary of State verified 90 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:17.040 corroborated the electoral results. Is the electoral results? Is that going? 91 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:20.519 As I understand it, They're basically trying to stall you. 92 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:23.079 This is the old end around stall. 93 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:28.079 Play, So you are correct there trying to stall implementation 94 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:30.160 of the law that they've already signaled they have no 95 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:34.240 intention of following. So essentially what just happened over the 96 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:37.720 course of the last week, our office has been preparing 97 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:42.720 to initiate the audit that we you know, are supposed 98 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:46.759 to be conducted, that we're mandated to conduct, and that 99 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:50.639 is actually in effect to take place for the law. 100 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:54.360 That's an effect to take place today December fifth. November 101 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:58.399 fifth was the election today, December fifth. That law is 102 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:03.000 actually supposed to be in place. It actually is effective. 103 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:08.199 It is effective today exactly. Now, what's happening right now 104 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:10.879 as legislative leaders are trying to stall and they're saying, well, 105 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:14.000 that's not accurate. You know, it's thirty days from when 106 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:18.920 the question gets certified by the Governor's Council. And that's 107 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:23.000 just simply inaccurate. Dan, It's actually very clear in the 108 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:28.399 Constitution that actually says in a crystal queer fashion that 109 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:33.759 ballot questions regarding state law changes are to take effects 110 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:38.920 thirty days after the state election. Now, I didn't just 111 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:44.199 pull that information just from the Constitution. I actually verified 112 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:49.399 it by looking at the Secretary of State's Informational Guidebook 113 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:55.199 on Ballot Questions. That actually explicitly states in the secretary 114 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:58.560 of State's Guidebook that the law takes place. It doesn't 115 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:01.079 just say that it takes place thirty days after the 116 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:05.199 state election. It actually says the date in the guide book. 117 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:09.079 It says the date of December fifth, twenty twenty four, 118 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:14.040 these laws shall take effect. However, when I went to 119 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:18.079 go and call for the law to take effects today. 120 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:22.839 We heard a different story yesterday, unfortunately, and leaders on 121 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:28.240 Beacon Hill said that you know that now wasn't accurate 122 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:31.240 and that was what was written and the Secretary of 123 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:36.120 State's guidebook was not actually the truth, and that they 124 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:39.480 believe they have more time, and you know, it's just 125 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.600 we're at the point Dan where you know, there's so 126 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:46.559 much guest lighting going on. Something needs to be done. 127 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:49.639 People need to start standing up and calling their elected 128 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:54.200 officials and demanding that this law be followed. So if 129 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:57.960 you're listening tonight, folks, please call the Secretary of State 130 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:01.559 and ask for his support. Please call the Attorney General 131 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:05.039 and ask for her support. Please call the governor ask 132 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.320 for her to help and ensure that this becomes you know, 133 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:12.559 it's actually effective, sooner rather than later. The law is 134 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:15.600 the law today, And call every state legislator that you 135 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:19.879 can and demand that they follow the will of the people. 136 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.360 So well said, we're going to take a quick break, 137 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:26.320 and when we come back, I want to explain what 138 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:31.000 I think the legislature has planned, because they have another 139 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:33.559 play that they want to run. After they stall you 140 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:37.279 for thirty days, there will be a new legislature in session, 141 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:41.159 and I think that they have another trick up their sleeves, 142 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:43.240 and I want to run that one by you. And 143 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:47.120 I want people to understand that you're a Democrat. You 144 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:50.639 were a Democratic state representative, you were an aid to 145 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:55.120 a Democrat in the House, you were a Democratic state representative. 146 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:58.240 You're a state senator, a Democratic state senator, and you 147 00:09:58.279 --> 00:10:01.600 are elected as an auditor who happens to be a Democrat. 148 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:07.240 So this is not some Republican who is outnumbered badly 149 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:11.159 at the legislature. You are with the majority party and 150 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:15.159 all you want is some transparency. Sunlight is the greatest disinfectant. 151 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:19.519 But you have the legislative leadership up there which controls 152 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:23.559 their membership by doling out committee and subcommittee assignments and 153 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:27.879 the extra money that those individuals earn above and beyond 154 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:31.440 their base salary. And that is how the legislature stays 155 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:36.559 the legislature of Massachusetts. We're going to emphasize to people 156 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:38.360 that they need to take some action. You can do 157 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:42.399 two things. You can call tonight and support the state 158 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:46.000 auditor and let your voice be heard across the commonwealth. 159 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:48.000 But in addition to that, I hope you'll be willing 160 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:52.159 to call tomorrow or buttonhold your state legislator or this weekend, 161 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:55.039 whether it be your state senator or your state representative, 162 00:10:55.039 --> 00:11:00.240 and say the vote has been taken. The Democrats we're 163 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:03.840 talking about on a national level, that they were concerned 164 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:08.159 that this election was about democracy, Diana, as I'm sure 165 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:12.159 you know, and they were concerned that the democracy was 166 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:15.600 on the ballot. Well, democracy is actually on the ballot 167 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:18.559 here in Massachusetts, and by a seventy two to twenty 168 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:23.200 eight percent margin. People say, audit the legislature. I'm going 169 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:25.000 to give our phone number, and then later on I'll 170 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:26.960 give the phone number the State House tomorrow, and let's 171 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:29.480 see what we can do to get this get this movie. 172 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:32.600 And some legislators have to grow some backbone and go 173 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.519 to the Senate president and the House Speaker and say, hey, look, 174 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:40.399 you know, the people have spoken. Members in my district 175 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:43.120 have spoken, and this could become a huge campaign issue 176 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:46.879 the next time two years from now, if indeed the people, 177 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.000 the will of the people is overridden. My guest is 178 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:52.600 State Auditor Diana Desauglio, who is doing a great job, 179 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:56.759 and it's this is not a partisan issue, this is 180 00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:59.639 this is what the people want seventy two percent of 181 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.840 the people say, let's audit the state legislature. Let's get 182 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:06.159 it done. And by the way, if Senate, if the Speaker, 183 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:11.840 Speaker Mariano, or if the Senate President Karen Spilker, Senate 184 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:14.399 President Spilker would like to come on to the program 185 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:19.080 UH next week sometime and tell us why their position 186 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.120 is correct, they would be more than welcome. And if 187 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:24.679 they'd love to come on with the State Auditor, that 188 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.120 would even be better. That would be really fun. But 189 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:30.080 they won't. I guarantee you they won't. We'll take a break. 190 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:33.799 Here's the number six one seven, ten thirty six one 191 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:37.399 seven nine three one ten thirty. This is about the 192 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:42.360 way your money is being spent at the legislature. 193 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:43.039 UH. 194 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:45.600 The uditor wants to find out how it's being spent 195 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:50.080 and is it being spent properly? UH, because frankly, we 196 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:52.519 have a lot of people in need here in the Commonwealth, 197 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:54.720 and we want to make sure the money goes to 198 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:58.279 the people and the programs that are needed, UH, and 199 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:03.360 not to to particular little programs that maybe the legislature 200 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:06.440 doesn't really want to have people see the light of day. 201 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.559 That's what this is all about back on Nightside. My 202 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:10.960 name is Dan Ray. Light these lines up six point 203 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.759 seven four ten thirty. This is an important issue. Back 204 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:17.679 on Nightside. Now back to Dan Ray live from the 205 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:19.279 Window World Nightside. 206 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.600 Studios on WBZ News Radio. 207 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:25.679 Where are the Window World studio wheel, which, of course 208 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:29.240 is right, The windows are here in the background. Folks, 209 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.759 trust me on that. We're delighted to be with the 210 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:34.639 state of Auto of the Comma of Massachusetts dying in Dessaugliel. 211 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:37.679 Before we go to phone calls, which we will go to, 212 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:39.159 and I want to get to as many as we 213 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:43.639 possibly can, Madam Auditor. It seems to me what the 214 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.240 legislature would like to do. They would love to draw 215 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:49.320 you into a lawsuit so this whole issue can be 216 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.360 tied up in a court of law for you know, 217 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:55.399 two or three years, or they would like to when 218 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:58.360 they convene in January, try to pass some sort of 219 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:03.200 bill which overrides what the people have voted for. Yeah. 220 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:08.080 I actually, well, no, no, I don't think you're far Often. 221 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:12.080 I think the reality is is that, you know, I 222 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:15.440 would love to be able to adjudicate this matter in 223 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:18.159 a court of law, but I've already tried to sue 224 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:21.320 the legislature. The Attorney General blocked my access to a 225 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:28.080 court for my constitutionally guaranteed in partial hearing, and you know, 226 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.120 that was very unfortunate, and I really wanted to be 227 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:33.360 able to adjudicate this matter and resolve this issue at 228 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:37.360 a court of law before it was necessary to do 229 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:40.840 something like take it to the ballot. The ballot was 230 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.919 a lot of hard work. 231 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.039 A lot of. 232 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.919 People had to invest a lot of hours across Massachusetts 233 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:51.440 collecting signatures, campaigning, raising donations. It was a lot of work. 234 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:54.159 It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, 235 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:56.679 and then I think a lot of people that worked 236 00:14:56.679 --> 00:15:00.039 on have ever done. But we did it right. The 237 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:02.120 reason why we had to do it, though, is because 238 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:09.080 of the legislature's refusal essentially to want to meet us 239 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:13.360 in court, the AG's refusal to allow us access to court. 240 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:17.759 So I actually think that legislators are scared to go 241 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:23.000 to a court of law, that their arguments are completely ridiculous. 242 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:27.360 They have said that they believe it's unconstitutional for the 243 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:31.200 Office of State Auditor to conduct an audit of the 244 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:35.000 state legislature, and this is being said. Then while they 245 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:42.600 simultaneously themselves conduct audits of the executive branch agencies. What 246 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:45.440 they have said is an audit for thee but not 247 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:50.720 for me. They can audit all the executive branch agencies 248 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:54.960 and they do so with their post audit and overscity 249 00:15:55.039 --> 00:16:00.840 that literally has subpoena authority over the executive brand government. 250 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:05.759 But yet they claim that there's some constitutional separation of 251 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:11.519 powers that's one directional and only matters when the executive 252 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:14.759 branch tries to conduct an audit back. They want to 253 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:18.000 completely get out of the system of checks and balance 254 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:23.559 zero accountability, because it's not enough that they're exempt from 255 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.600 the public records law. It's not enough that they're exempt 256 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:29.360 from open meeting laws. It's not enough that they're the 257 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:33.080 most powerful politicians in Massachusetts and get to make decisions 258 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:36.200 about all of our tax dollars under a cloak of 259 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:39.360 darkness in the middle of the night, with zero accountability. 260 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:43.399 They want more power. So what they are doing is 261 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:47.320 they are trying to ensure that there is zero accountability 262 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:51.279 regarding what their actions are regarding the use of our 263 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:54.360 tax dollars. And I don't think that they want to 264 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:56.320 go to court to discuss this matter. I think that 265 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:59.759 they've been hiding from court. And I think that unfortunately, 266 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:03.320 Thettorney general decision to refuse to give us access to 267 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:08.240 court with something that legislators actually agreed with. I think 268 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:11.400 that they just are hoping that the Attorney General blocks 269 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:14.400 our access to the court system again and that they 270 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:18.799 can continue to get away with, you know, refusing to 271 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.880 abide by the law. And that's why I need everybody's 272 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:25.359 help to please call all of our elected officials on 273 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.160 Beacon Hell, especially our Attorney General and our governor. 274 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:30.440 Yeah, you know, let me take. 275 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.559 A suggestion if I could. 276 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:32.079 Sure. 277 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:37.440 I am not your lawyer. However, I'm stunned that the 278 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:43.160 Attorney General, Andrea Campbell, would prevent you, as the state auditor, 279 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:49.720 from basically attempting to win and enforce the ballot initiative 280 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:54.359 that you, the voters of Massachusetts approved on November fifth, 281 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:59.319 Number one, number two. There's a way in which if 282 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:03.119 Andrea Campbell is unwilling to represent you in your capacity 283 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:08.680 as state auditor, what would prevent you from going to 284 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:13.759 the Supreme Court State Supreme Court as a citizen, not 285 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:17.200 as the state auditor, but basically you and maybe I 286 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:20.440 don't know, a small group of other citizens, almost the 287 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:25.240 equivalent of a civil class action suit. There is a 288 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:27.880 way to get to the state Supreme Court quickly. It's 289 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:32.279 called what they call the gatekeeper statue. Most lawyers in 290 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.799 Massachusetts who you would talk to, would know of what 291 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:38.079 I speak. That would get you before a single justice 292 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.319 very quickly. 293 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:45.119 And I really appreciate that, Dan, Yeah, I really appreciate that. 294 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.279 I actually just wanted to jump in because you're on 295 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:51.799 the right track there. But I will say it's not 296 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:55.000 me who would be doing that. I actually have already 297 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:59.079 been told that should be Attorney General not step in 298 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.799 to require compliance with the people's audit that was just 299 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:11.680 voted for that. There are organizations who are strongly considering 300 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:17.680 filing a lawsuit against the Commonwealth to demand compliance. Now, now, again, 301 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:20.119 what a shame, What a shame that would be. 302 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:23.400 Well, I wouldn't file it. Well, I would file it 303 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:27.480 against the Speaker and the Senate President in their in 304 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:31.279 their capacities as speakers, as Speaker and Senate President, and 305 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:35.119 also in their individual capacities as citizens of the Commonwealth. 306 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:38.279 And again there is this process called a gatekeeper statute, 307 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:42.960 which basically can streamline and get this into court very quickly, 308 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:48.799 and I just emphasized that you may want to at 309 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:52.880 least have some lawyers look at it. Why Andrea Campbell 310 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:59.240 would side with the legislature against a fellow constitutional officer, 311 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:02.920 who are all really members of the executive branch as 312 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:06.680 it were. You're executives, You're not a member of the governors, 313 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.160 and the governors should join you as well. Anyway, let 314 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:11.039 me do this. I'm just throwing that out at that 315 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:14.920 idea to you because I know enough about the law 316 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.720 to be dangerous here. 317 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:21.279 And I'm yeah, and Dan, honestly, you're actually stating what 318 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:23.799 a lot of people have been saying. And I think, 319 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:27.000 you know, it's really important that we do realize as 320 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:30.240 elected officials that you know, the reality is is that 321 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:35.440 if people do not follow the law, that the Commonwealth 322 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:40.759 is opening itself up to lawsuits from outside groups, outside organizations, 323 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:45.640 outside individuals, and folks have already stated that that is 324 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:50.480 something that's an absolute possibility and that you know, they 325 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:56.200 would consider doing that. So it is definitely something that 326 00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:00.400 is I think should be concerning to the attorneys unknown 327 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:03.200 to the legislative leaders, because you know, look, it's time to 328 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:05.240 come together, it's time to get this done. It's time 329 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.359 for the games to stop. This is the law. Now, 330 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:10.599 this is a serious issue to violate the law in 331 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:13.640 this way. You know, this is not some disagreement about 332 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:17.119 some random issue you know that isn't really that big 333 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:19.759 of a deal. This is a huge issue of concern 334 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:23.759 and it is a really big deal for lawmakers lawmakers 335 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:27.000 to violate the law. And it would be an even 336 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:30.200 bigger deal if they were violating the law to such 337 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:35.079 a capacity. You know that, you know, it actually inspired 338 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:41.759 people to sue from outside of our government, to feel 339 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:44.160 that they had to sue to get compliance. You know, 340 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:46.319 this should be something that's being done anyways. 341 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:49.400 It's not beyond the realm of possibility that they're covering 342 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:52.920 up things that they don't want the public to be 343 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:56.279 aware of. And I would just finish my comment and 344 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:58.119 then we're going to go to news and I have 345 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:00.519 full lines, Diana. So I think we've got some people 346 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:04.559 who are interested. Here, a lot of my friends, brothers 347 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:07.279 and sisters at the bar listen to this program, and 348 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:12.079 if anyone of you lawyers in Massachusetts who would like 349 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.519 to provide you with some either some advice, guidance, help 350 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:20.279 or direction, and they want to contact me tomorrow. Particularly 351 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:22.039 if they're friends of mine, I will put them in 352 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:27.680 touch with you so we can maybe anything we can 353 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.400 do to help you. Diana's what I'm trying to say. 354 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:32.319 Thank you so much. Dan, I appreciate that. Thank you. 355 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:34.920 I mean, you did the hard work, you walked across 356 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.880 the state. All you're looking for is a little bit 357 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:39.880 of transparency. It's what democracy is all about. The Democrats 358 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:43.680 have been talking about democracy now for months, saving democracy. 359 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:47.200 The Washington Post. Democracy dies in darkness. There is no 360 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:52.519 darker chambers in the state than the House of Representatives 361 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.720 and the state Senate chambers here in Massachusetts. And I'm 362 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.480 telling you, and you know as well as I do, 363 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:01.119 that they're going to try to run some some additional 364 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:05.759 play in early January to override what the voters of 365 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:10.200 the Commonwealth are demanding. So let's take a break, get 366 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:12.039 a few minutes for news, and I want to get 367 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.359 right to listeners. And I guarantee you you're going to 368 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:17.839 hear support from my audience, which is gonna going to 369 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:21.519 bolster your your confidence. And I'm I'm so delighted that many, 370 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:24.720 so many people are are chomping to get get to 371 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:27.200 phone lines We'll be back with my guest, the state 372 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:32.880 unor the Comwealth of Massachusetts. Uh, auditor Diana Desauglia, who 373 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:35.480 is doing a great job at the State House. And 374 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:38.359 I emphasize she is a Democrat. This is not some 375 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:42.400 Republican crying in the darkness. She's supported by by three 376 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:45.759 out of four voters in the election of November fifth. 377 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.240 Back on Nightside after. 378 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:49.799 This, it's Night Side with. 379 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.519 Boston's news Radio. 380 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:59.160 So I guess the state auditor, Madam monitor, Let's go 381 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:05.119 to the phones down. Kareine and Lynn. Karine welcome, you're 382 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:08.279 all with Diana the State Auditor. Go right ahead. 383 00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:10.240 Hi, can you hear me? 384 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:12.480 Okay, there, we can hear you perfectly. 385 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:14.920 Karin, thank you for Is it Corina Korea? How do 386 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.640 you pronounce it? 387 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:20.359 It is Kareene. However, if you chooses a Karan, I say, 388 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:23.720 just kick one and go with it, right ahead, kre 389 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:29.960 go ahead, all right, Hello State Auditor. Uh, this is ugly, 390 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:31.920 oh very nice. 391 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.559 How are you? 392 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:36.920 Oh, I'm wonderful, thank you. And actually, just to get 393 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:39.200 it quickly out of the way, a little bit of 394 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:41.839 a family member. We are with the vicaros. 395 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:46.200 Oh wow, yes. 396 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:51.000 Yes, so lovely. To hear you immediately caught my attention 397 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:54.160 because I listened to Dan quite often when I'm in 398 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:57.279 the car, and that's why AM radio is important as well. 399 00:24:57.720 --> 00:25:03.359 I got to get you a radio for your house, Caren. 400 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:05.160 And I do tell Alexa, but I can't say her 401 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:07.960