WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:06.599 It's nice side with Dan Ray w Bzy Koston's Radio. 2 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:11.199 All right, ballid Question one, which we have talked about before. 3 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:15.320 We are delighted to be joined again by the Massachusetts 4 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:19.800 State Auditor, Diana Desaglio. She is so committed to passing 5 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:23.839 Question one that she has spent a good portion of 6 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:27.960 this month walking. I said, walking across the conwalth of 7 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:33.520 Massachusetts one hundred and forty one miles, madam auditor, welcome, 8 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:34.359 How are you tonight? 9 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:35.840 Wow? 10 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:39.159 Thank you, Jan it's a pleasure to be back so soon. 11 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:42.880 And yes, I did walk across the state from Great 12 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:48.159 Barrington to Beacon Hell to raise awareness about the need 13 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:54.200 to vote yes on Question one to audit the state legislature. 14 00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:57.359 Well, they're not cooperating with you on this. 15 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:01.200 I understand that I've seen with invited someone to come 16 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:03.320 on either the House Speaker of the Senate. 17 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:06.760 President hasn't worked out too well. But that's okay. 18 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:09.400 That's the choice before we talk about Question one, which 19 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:12.959 is really important. This was an extraordinary effort. I can't 20 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.599 imagine walking across the Kalmwalth of Massachusetts. 21 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:16.680 Now. 22 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:18.200 People said, well, Massachusetts in a big state. 23 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.480 Its one hundred and forty one miles you started in 24 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:24.560 the New York border. Was there any moment in time 25 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:26.840 where you said to yourself, oh, not sure, this is 26 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:27.719 really a good idea. 27 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:27.959 Man. 28 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.280 Did you get bad weather? Did anybody you. 29 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:32.640 Know, did you come close to you know, some guy 30 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:34.719 you know not running off the road intentionally, but you 31 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:36.599 know there are people out there driving on cars. 32 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:37.560 I mean that was a. 33 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:41.280 Fairly dangerous, you know, effort that you took. 34 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:43.000 My hat's off to you. 35 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:45.959 It's what I'm saying, Dan, thank you so much. And 36 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:48.560 let me just clarify. I am on the road in 37 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.680 Western mass currently, or in Greenfield. So if I do 38 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:54.920 hit a patch where there's no service, I'll call you 39 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:58.079 right back. But I will say, and I am not driving, 40 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:01.719 by the way, I will Are you walking now? 41 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:02.920 No? 42 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:04.840 No, no, I am not walking right now. 43 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:05.200 No. 44 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:06.760 No, that's I'm in. 45 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:09.719 Western mass So my so my reception is a bit 46 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:10.479 tricky right now. 47 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:15.000 But you've made. You've made the walk was so October 48 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:16.240 before it till October eleventh. 49 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:23.000 Then yes, I I'm back on the road again. But 50 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.400 what I will say is, look, there were a couple 51 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:29.800 of tricky times. There was some road construction. Uh there 52 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:34.120 you know, we're challenging roads in terms of you know, 53 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:38.240 I had had a volunteer essentially Google mapped the route 54 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:40.520 for us, and they did a really good job. However, 55 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:42.599 because we didn't get to go out and drive the 56 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:46.000 route first, we didn't have enough time. I ended up 57 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.120 just walking the route and saying, look, if there are challenges, 58 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:51.039 we'll just have to figure out ways around them. So 59 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:54.280 there were a couple of challenging times, especially around Route 60 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:58.120 twenty in the route Worcester area, where you know it 61 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:01.240 was on my map. I just keep walking down Route 62 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:03.759 twenty until you know, I realized, well, hey, there's no 63 00:03:03.960 --> 00:03:07.479 shoulder here to walk on. So we did have to 64 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:12.159 do some you know, recon and that in that regard 65 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:14.599 and make sure that I was shifted over and shuffled 66 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:17.759 over to a safer place to walk in, which, you know, 67 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.400 I was grateful to have local volunteers who knew the 68 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:23.039 area well and knew all the back roads, so they helped. 69 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.280 And you know, I would say the only day that 70 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.599 I really had a little bit more of a challenging 71 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:33.919 time full disclosure, was when it rained for a few hours. 72 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:36.520 And when it first started raining, no big deal, but 73 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:39.560 after a few hours of the rain. I was definitely 74 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:43.919 less than passionate about my walk during those few hours. 75 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:46.520 I got a little bit cold, but I you know, 76 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:48.680 had some volunteers helping. They brought me a change of 77 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:51.280 clothes so I could keep walking that day. And I 78 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:55.479 have to say, I am incredibly, incredibly grateful because the 79 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:59.159 sun was shining with some great weather for the vast 80 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:01.759 majority of the week, and we were able to connect 81 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:06.759 Dan with so many amazing residents across this Commonwealth in 82 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:10.159 their own neighborhoods. Folks were hearing that I was walking 83 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:13.159 through their neighborhood and they would, you know, give our 84 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:15.479 campaign a call, and they would call and they would 85 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:18.920 come out and start walking with me. People were walking 86 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:22.040 with signs on their back that had, you know, logos 87 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:26.040 of the sun shining because we're you know, our campaign 88 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:29.879 is the Sunshine Campaign, where sunlight is the best disinfectant. 89 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.839 We're saying, let's shine a light on the dark areas 90 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:36.439 of state government through an audit of the legislature. Folks 91 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:40.000 were coming out with bright yellow, which is our campaign color, 92 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:44.480 with suns on their T shirts. They were coming out 93 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:47.480 with vote yes on one written on post a boards 94 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:50.759 and walking and holding up the signs. I was getting 95 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:54.319 honking of horns, you know, with people waving out the 96 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:57.040 window and you know, let me know you're almost there. 97 00:04:57.480 --> 00:04:59.920 So it was it was a good It was a 98 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:01.759 good week, and we got to meet with a lot 99 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:04.920 of a lot of residents across the Commonwealth, and I 100 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:09.920 was inspired Dan to see so many local officials come 101 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:11.399 out and join as well. 102 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:16.079 Look, that was a herculean task. Number one and number two, 103 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.319 I don't know there were too many members of the 104 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:22.399 legislature who could walk one hundred and forty one miles. 105 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.800 And you do they certainly would have been invited, especially 106 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:26.600 for this cause. 107 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:28.360 No, No, I understand that. 108 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:33.680 No, I'm just saying is that you obviously knew exactly 109 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:36.600 what you were doing. I'm sure you had the enough 110 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.240 of you know, a change of a couple of pairs 111 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:41.959 of sneakers along the way. I'm just I gotta tell you, 112 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:47.120 I am astonished, and I stand an absolute awe of 113 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.800 someone who would take on that task. I'm serious when 114 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.519 I say that, I mean just the idea of basically, 115 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:57.560 you're talking about the equivalent of about six or seven 116 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:02.920 marathons in from from the from the New York border 117 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:07.120 to Massachusetts. So again, I don't want to, you know, 118 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:12.639 go overboard here, but congratulations and I can't and I are. 119 00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:15.480 You know, you're going to know the state better than 120 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:19.240 any of the other major politicians up there because you 121 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:22.000 have literally did you how many towns? How many communities 122 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:23.480 did you hit along the way? You must have hit 123 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:25.600 like thirty or forty communities along the way out. 124 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.439 Of the Oh you know what, I didn't. I didn't 125 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:29.959 actually count, but that is a great thing for me 126 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:31.519 to do. I'm gonna go back and come then I'll 127 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:34.639 let you know. But you know, we took yeah, we 128 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:38.399 took a route that took us from Great Barrington through 129 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:44.680 Otis onto Westfield and West Springfield. We went through Springfield, 130 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:49.959 then we went on to go through communities like Sturbridge, 131 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:54.040 and we actually ended up going through both Worcester and Auburn. 132 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:58.160 We went over to Westborough to Wellesley, all the way 133 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:01.360 to Beacon Hill, and it was great to see folks 134 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:05.000 even who didn't live in the communities that I happened 135 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:10.399 to be walking directly through, Folks from neighboring communities coming 136 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:13.040 to join on the walk. For example, when I was 137 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:17.519 in Western mass and I was walking through Brimfield and 138 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:20.360 into Otis and some other areas in East Brimfield. I 139 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:23.879 had the Mayor of holy Yoke, Joshua Bergarcia, a great 140 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:27.879 friend who came out and walked with me in communities 141 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:29.680 that you know. He wasn't the mayor for he's the 142 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:31.399 mayor of Holyoke, but he came and walked with me 143 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:34.319 for a little while and we had lunch together, talked 144 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:37.399 about the initiative. He's fully supportive of Yes on One. 145 00:07:38.279 --> 00:07:42.360 Mayor Mike McCabe of Westfield came and walked with me 146 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.079 for several miles actually, and hosted an event for me 147 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:48.800 in his community, which is one of the nights I 148 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:51.600 ended in Westfield, and he hosted an event for me 149 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:57.040 to encourage his local community in Westfield about Yes on One. 150 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.879 You know. Mayor will Reich cult came and joined us 151 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:06.600 from West Springfield. Mayor Sam Qualia from Fitchburg drove down 152 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:12.560 to walk with me through communities that are you know, 153 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:15.279 I think you She drove about forty five minutes to 154 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.120 an hour, and that was the day that I was 155 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:21.720 walking on to Westborough and she was walking with me 156 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:24.959 that day alongside of counsel of Sally Craigan from Fitchburg. 157 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:31.399 We had the mayor of Addleborough, Mayor Kathleen de Simone, 158 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:34.759 come up and walk with me the morning that I 159 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:37.480 left Wellesley to head from Boston, and we got to 160 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:40.360 talk about a lot of municipal issues and you know, 161 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:43.919 different issues facing her community alongside of her support for 162 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:49.879 Question one. So what a great and inspirational time it was. Indeed, 163 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:53.159 thanks to all of these wonderful folks coming out and walking. 164 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:57.720 We had folks from all across the political spectrum, Democrats 165 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:02.320 and enrolled Republicans all coming together to fight for increased 166 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:05.480 transparency up on Beacon Hill. It was an inspiring week. 167 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:07.960 Oh well, i'll tell you just great. So just one 168 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:08.600 of two questions. 169 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:09.720 Then I got to take a break, and I want 170 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:11.559 to get some phone calls, okay, because I think that 171 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:15.120 I didn't want to talk about Question one. I hope 172 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:17.279 there was no moment where you stepped in a ditch 173 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:20.679 and sprained an ankle that you you got through it 174 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:24.440 pretty well, you know, because that stuff can happen. There 175 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:27.000 was never some dog that chased you or something that 176 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:31.159 never a moment of real problem or concern it. 177 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:32.759 I hope no. 178 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:35.639 I actually have to say it was a great, great 179 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:36.600 week overall. 180 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.320 You know. 181 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:39.440 The worst thing that happened this pastic And I'm a 182 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:41.960 big hiker, Dan, so I should I should skate that, 183 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:45.440 just hold it to be a big hiker. I hike 184 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:49.279 the four thousand footers in New Hampshire. Anytime I take 185 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:51.960 a vacation, it's usually a hiking trip. So I'm a 186 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:54.679 very big hiker and avid hiker, and I love walking. 187 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:56.879 And I did bring my walking sticks with me, and 188 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:58.960 I did bring my camel back with me. The worst 189 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:01.279 thing that happened in one of the days, I stepped 190 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:05.879 in a really big puddle with a wet shoe for 191 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:09.480 a little while. But you know, nothing that wasn't very 192 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:12.240 easy to overcome. Some sore joints solved with a little 193 00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:16.080 bit of ibuprofen and lots and lots and lots of water. 194 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.039 Oh that's great, that's great. 195 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:21.320 I'm talking with the State Auditor the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 196 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:26.879 one of the six Constitutional officers officers here in Massachusetts, 197 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:30.159 and she wants to audit the legislature, which I think 198 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:31.759 is a fabulous idea. 199 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:33.120 I have already. 200 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:38.360 Voted yes on question one, and I would advocate and 201 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:41.200 suggest all of you the same if you'd like to 202 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:45.679 talk to the State Auditor, and really she's just I think, 203 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:49.039 has just done something which is extraordinary. And if you'd 204 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:52.600 like to add a word of congratulations, you will more 205 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:55.039 than welcome. Six one, seven, two, five four thirty six 206 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:58.080 one seven, nine thirty. We'll take some questions with the 207 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:01.120 state of udit and we'll talk more about what Question one, 208 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:06.200 if approved by the voters on November fifth, will accomplish. 209 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:08.919 We'll be back on nights side with State Auditor Diane 210 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.360 Dezaglio right after a couple of messages. 211 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:15.080 Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World 212 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:18.360 Night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio. 213 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:23.519 Diana, let's talk about Question one. Why did they have 214 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:26.360 to go to the ballot of this? That is something 215 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:29.279 I think the foundational question people should understand. 216 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.799 Sure, sure, we had to go to the ballot because 217 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:36.600 when I went to conduct the audit of the legislature 218 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.080 that I had committed to conducting during my campaign for 219 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:43.519 State Auditor, the Senate President and the Speaker vehemently refused 220 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:47.000 to participate in the audit and cooperate with our office 221 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:51.679 and refuse to give us access to things like receipts procurement, 222 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:56.279 contracting information and other documents that frankly should be a 223 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:59.639 matter of public record if our legislature didn't exempt themselves 224 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:03.960 from the record law. When they refused to cooperate with 225 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:07.000 our office, I did ask the Attorney General's Office for 226 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:12.759 Assistants to bring the legislature to court to adjudicate this matter, 227 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:16.679 to ensure that the courts could make the judgment call 228 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:20.399 on our right to audit the state legislature. Now, for 229 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:22.960 folks who might not have been following this entire time, 230 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:27.399 the Auditor's Office has always historically audited our state legislature 231 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:30.799 since its inception in EP forty nine. We have conducted 232 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:35.360 over one hundred audits of the legislature throughout history. It's 233 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:38.840 only been in recent years that legislative leaders who have 234 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:42.759 become very very powerful have decided to kick up their 235 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:46.399 heels and say that they are refusing to cooperate with 236 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:50.320 these audits. That is unacceptable, So we sought to bring 237 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:52.720 them to court to require that they comply with the 238 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:55.480 current law that already states that my office is to 239 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:00.919 audit all departments and activities and accounts of the Commonwealth. 240 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:05.480 They don't believe that all departments applies to them, so 241 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.240 we tried to bring them to court. The Attorney General 242 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:13.639 refused to assist us in court and sided with legislative 243 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:18.480 leaders instead against this audit, leaving us with the only 244 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:22.879 option of pursuing this through a ballot initiative to get 245 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:27.080 the support of the people of Massachusetts by voting to 246 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:33.639 ensure that the state legislature is absolutely included in the 247 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:36.840 language of the law, to clear up any confusion about 248 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:40.600 the phrase all departments and make sure that it says 249 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:45.320 including the General Court, so instead of saying all departments, 250 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:48.879 it will say all departments, including the General Court, are 251 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:52.200 to be audited by the Office of State Auditor. It's 252 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:55.919 concerning and disappointing that we even had to get to 253 00:13:55.919 --> 00:14:01.679 this point of providing clarification on language that I don't 254 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:05.559 believe is really ambiguous at all. I believe all means 255 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:09.159 all and it's very clear. But we did have to 256 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:13.799 bring this to the ballot because of Legislative leader's refusal 257 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:18.440 to participate and the Attorney General's refusal to represent us 258 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:22.159 in court on this matter and siding with legislative leaders. 259 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:25.279 So here we are. We went out Thanks to all 260 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:28.600 the volunteers out there who helped to collect over one 261 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:32.200 hundred thousand signatures to get this issue on the ballot 262 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:35.279 November fifth, we are now on the ballot thanks to 263 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:37.440 all of you. We have to get a lot of signatures, 264 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:39.720 do a lot of work for that, and now this 265 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.960 issue is on the ballot, and voters will have an 266 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:45.440 opportunity to make crystal clear that they expect our state 267 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:48.960 legislature to abide by the same laws as everyone else, 268 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:53.360 and they expect our state legislature to show us the receipts. 269 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:57.559 After all, it'll be a great victory. It'll be a 270 00:14:57.559 --> 00:15:01.720 great victory for the people of Massachusetts if Massachusetts votes 271 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:04.759 yes on Question one. The other question that. 272 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:08.399 I had, auditor, is that the power of the purse 273 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:13.679 always rests with the legislature in Congress or in Massachusetts. 274 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:19.759 So I'm wondering if there's been any negative feedback from 275 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:23.080 the legislators who do not like to be told what 276 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:26.440 to do in the legislative leadership. Have they tried to 277 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:29.600 come after your funding for your department or anything, because 278 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:33.000 that seems to me the way that oftentimes people who 279 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.320 are in positions of power and authority react. 280 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:40.840 One thousand percent. That's unfortunately the way legislative leaders operate. 281 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:45.080 It is like a middle school playground, and they have 282 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:48.879 acted like bullies. Let's just be real here. I served 283 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.120 in the state legislature for six years of the state 284 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:55.360 rep four years as a Senator. I served portions of 285 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:57.879 the Merrimack Valley in the North Shore during my time 286 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:01.720 in the legislature, and I was pretty canned as someone 287 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:05.080 who grew up in Masillen and Lawrence. I spoke my 288 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:08.919 mind quite often about what my district expected and sought 289 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:11.840 for my community, and that was not appreciated. I was 290 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.600 often retaliated against during that time. It wasn't just me. 291 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:18.279 Many folks who speak up for their communities get retaliated 292 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:21.799 against by legislative leaders and that's not changed at all 293 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:26.279 since I became State Auditor. They have absolutely retaliated against 294 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:31.320 my office already. I have gotten five times less of 295 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:36.080 an increase than some of my counterparts in constitutional office. 296 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:40.720 I have seen attempts by the House Speaker and sent 297 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:47.559 a President to strip my office of appointing authority to 298 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:52.279 commissions like the Health Policy Commission, in a retaliatory effort 299 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:55.360 to try to punish our office for doing the work 300 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:57.759 we are called to do by people of the commonwealth. 301 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:01.080 But Dan, honestly, this is nothing new. This is not 302 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:06.240 my first rodeo dealing with leadership's retaliation. And frankly, we're 303 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:09.640 not going to be bullied by the by the middle 304 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:11.319 school playground bullies right now. 305 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:12.960 Last quick question. 306 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:14.799 We've got to good news, and I have a bunch 307 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.480 of phone callers who want to talk to on the 308 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:18.200 other side, if you can stick with us just for 309 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.160 a little while longer. 310 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:25.039 When did the audits of the legislature end? Who? If 311 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:25.720 you know what. 312 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:28.480 I'm sure you do, who was the auditor at that time, 313 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:32.519 and who were the legislative leaders who basically must have 314 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:35.680 worked back then with the auditor to us suspend what 315 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.160 had been a regular activity. 316 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:44.640 Former Joe Danucci, former Auditor Joe Denucci was the auditor 317 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:48.000 at the time when the audits stopped happening. Now, I know, 318 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:50.759 folks may have been you know, may have heard about 319 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.400 this fight for auditing the legislature for the first time 320 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:59.039 in recent months due to my push to audit the legislature. 321 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:04.359 But I'm actually not the first to make this push. 322 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:07.839 I stand on his shoulders of former auditor Joe Denucci, 323 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:13.000 who was actually the one who fought with the Speaker 324 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:16.079 of the House back in I believe it was around 325 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:20.680 nineteen ninety one or so in the early nineties when 326 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:25.680 Auditor Joe Denucci went in to conduct his routine audit 327 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:29.359 of the state legislature, and the Speaker at the time 328 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:36.880 at a time said to Speaker Dodanucci that he did 329 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:41.039 not want the auditor to audit the legislature. Auditor Joe 330 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:46.319 Denucci did not take kindly to that information and actually 331 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:48.880 went to the general at the time. 332 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:56.400 For well, do you ad erupt? 333 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.359 Do me favorite you want your cut in and tell 334 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:00.640 her we're lost and we'll bring back we got to 335 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:05.759 take a newscast. So Joe Denucci was the auditor and 336 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:10.160 a good guy, also a friend, and so he was 337 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:13.079 prevented from doing the audit. I missed which who was 338 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:15.640 the speaker at the time. But we'll do the research 339 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:18.359 on that and hopefully we can get this line. The 340 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:22.240 auditor had explained to us that she was in an 341 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:25.519 area in Brookfield where maybe she would lose contact with us. 342 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:27.160 But hopefully in the next couple of minutes we can 343 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:29.000 get her in a better place and we can stop 344 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.039 her from walking at least. 345 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:33.000 Yeah, no, no, that's great. You back. Are you back? 346 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:35.200 I'm back, Yes, thank you, And if I kind of 347 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:37.160 just let me know because sometimes it goes in and out. 348 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:39.240 No, no, no, this was the first time you lost 349 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:40.920 you real quickly because I got to go to news. 350 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:43.160 Who was this House speaker at the time that stopped 351 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:44.359 Denucci from doing the audit? 352 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:49.240 It was actually a speaker Flaherty and Joe Denucci the 353 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:54.039 time bought back and Joe Denucci asked the Attorney General 354 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:57.799 first astance. The Attorney General said, look, there's a disagreement 355 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:01.119 about the interpretation of the law. Why don't you file 356 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:04.440 a bill, mister auditor and try to pass a bill 357 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:08.880 that will require that they be audited. So the auditor 358 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:12.440 tried to file a bill. Apparently, you know, or obviously 359 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.640 the speaker at the time did not pass the bill. 360 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:17.880 Can I take a guess, I'll bet you the bill 361 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.319 never got out of committee. 362 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.880 The bill never got out of committee. 363 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:22.640 Man. 364 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:27.200 No, we're taking a different tact, Dan, We're a different 365 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:30.519 tact in a different approach, and we're bringing this issue 366 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:33.799 to the ballot. But Joe Denucci was actually the first 367 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:38.039 auditor to fight back against these bogus claims that the 368 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:41.839 legislature shouldn't be audited. Uh, and I stand on his 369 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:46.000 shoulders and continuing that fight, Well, he had big shoulders. 370 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.920 He was a tough guy, a boxer, as I'm sure 371 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:51.559 you know, a champion. As an auditor, you are as well. 372 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:54.279 We're going to take a break. We got about a 373 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:57.160 three minute newscast and we're going right to calls. And 374 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:01.319 I can't tell you how how much I support you 375 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:05.119 on this. This is so important. And the House Speaker, 376 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:09.599 Mike Flaherty, they came from that kind of that old school, 377 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:14.119 the Tommy McGhee school of House speakerships, who was kind. 378 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:15.240 Of their way of the highway. 379 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:20.839 And I think that the State Auditor knows the back 380 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:24.480 roads and the highways of the Massachusetts political scene pretty 381 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:27.319 well from her experiences. And I think this one's going 382 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:28.960 to pass, but it's only going to pass if you 383 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:32.160 vote yes on one. Back on Nightside right after this 384 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:36.279 with the State Audit the Comwalth of Massachusetts, Diana Dezaglio. 385 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:42.480 It's Night Side Withston's News Radio. 386 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:47.519 We're talking with the Massachusetts State Auditor, Diana Dezaglio, and 387 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:49.519 all she wants to do is do her job as 388 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:53.480 state Auditor the legislature is basically throwing roadblocks in her way. 389 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:59.160 Those roadblocks can be removed if people vote yes on 390 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:03.440 question one. Diana, I hope the connection is good because 391 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.880 I got a bunch of callers who would like to 392 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.839 like to ask you questions or perhaps even thand you 393 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:11.480 for what you're doing. Here we go Paul and need him. Paul, 394 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:14.400 welcome first, and I would state it auditor, Diana dis ugly, 395 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.359 go right ahead, Paul. 396 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:20.160 Yes, Good evening, dn auditor, good evening. I am a 397 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:23.160 y on one, I'm a years on one, and you 398 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:28.880 are doing an outstanding job. My question is this, this. 399 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:31.400 Call can only go downhill from here, you know, Diana 400 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:33.240 at this point, no, only kidding? 401 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:35.160