On Question 1, voters are granting the state auditor the power to audit the state Legislature.
Massachusetts voters decidedly asked for more transparency in the state’s notoriously opaque legislative process Tuesday.
With more than half of votes counted, the campaign to let the state auditor audit the Legislature led with 71% of the vote late Tuesday night.
Question 1 gives the state auditor — who is currently Diana DiZoglio — the ability to audit the state Legislature.
The Massachusetts Teachers Union is pushing the measure, arguing that standardized tests aren’t the best way to measure students’ abilities.
By the time the clock struck midnight on Tuesday, the Associated Press had only called one race.
In response to Question 1, voters are giving the state auditor the authority to conduct an audit of the state legislature.
A winner has not yet been announced, despite Tuesday night’s concession by proponents of Question 4, which would legalize certain psychedelics.
Voters in Massachusetts made a clear request Tuesday for greater openness in the state’s infamously opaque legislative process. The movement to allow the state auditor to audit the Legislature had 71 percent of the vote late Tuesday night, with more than half of the votes counted.
Diana DiZoglio, the state auditor, is authorized to audit the state Legislature by Question 1. The Legislature has declined to be audited, but the auditor is able to audit all other state entities. Last year, State Attorney General Andrea Campbell decided that DiZoglio could not conduct an audit of the Legislature without the Legislature’s approval under the existing legislation. Thus, DiZoglio started working to amend this law, and she was successful.
As a former state lawmaker, DiZoglio ran on this platform during her campaign for auditor. She told supporters Tuesday night that there is power when they band together.
“The authority to demand accountability, equity, transparency, and access from our government,” she stated. We have the right to know how the people we choose to represent us are spending our taxes. authority to make sure that every state government hall is filled with sunshine. “”.
State legislators have contended that permitting the auditor to carry out an audit without the Legislature’s approval would be a violation of the separation of powers because she is an executive branch official.
Voters apparently weren’t overly concerned about it. However, experts warn that this matter may still end up in court even if the ballot question is approved.
Northeastern University School of Law professor Jeremy Paul stated Tuesday evening that the state auditor intends to look into internal legislative discussions, such as how members of particular committees were chosen, in addition to simply reviewing the books.
And my worry about it, and the reason I believe it will eventually end up in the courts, is that when you put an independent official above the legislature, they will be watching them closely. The auditor is going to suddenly come down on me with a huge document request and interfere with my ability to perform my duties if I do something that she doesn’t like. “”.
The second question relates to the MCAS exam. Should this measure be approved, passing the tenth grade exam would no longer be a requirement for Massachusetts public school students to graduate. The exam would still be taken by students, but schools would employ their own standards for graduation. The measure is being promoted by the Massachusetts Teachers Union, which contends that standardized tests are not the most accurate means of assessing students’ aptitudes. The measure is opposed by some parent groups, who claim that it helps guarantee that all students meet high standards.
In response to Question 3, rideshare drivers at Uber and Lyft would be able to organize unions and demand better pay and working conditions. The measure has the support of several unions, including Local 32BJ. Opponents claim that it might make rides more expensive. Other gig workers, such as DoorDash and InstaCart, would not be covered by this measure.
Question 4 would make psilocybin and other natural psychedelics legal. It would make it possible for individuals to cultivate them at home and provide adult supervision. Proponents assert that psychedelics are beneficial for disorders like PTSD and depression. The measure’s opponents claim that it is excessively costly for those who wish to use the products and that it does not provide enough precise guidelines for home cultivation or treatment facilities.
Although the “Yes on 4” campaign gave in on Tuesday night, the race has not yet been called by the Associated Press.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Aayush Bajpai, the campaign spokesperson for “Yes on 4,” said, “We spoke to tens of thousands of Massachusetts voters and heard broad agreement that natural psychedelics should be more accessible to those who cannot find relief through traditional medication and therapy.”. We have made significant progress in the field of psychedelic therapy, and we will continue to work to open up new avenues for people who are struggling with their mental health. “”.
Question 5 would raise Massachusetts’s tipped workers’ base pay, which would be applied gradually over a five-year period until it reaches the minimum wage set by the state. Tipping by customers would remain possible. A higher tipped wage, according to its supporters, would help tipped employees like servers have more steady incomes and possibly level the playing field for “front of house” and “back of house” workers. Tipping employees who fear they will get smaller tips and lower pay overall are among the opponents. Some eateries claim that their profits may drop or that menu prices may increase to offset the higher wages.
