Healey's audit veto dilemma has a public records twist
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.
Gov. Maura Healey could find herself vetoing a bill she's pledged to support if House Democrats' attempt to roll back the ballot-approved 2024 legislative audit law reaches her desk.
Why it matters: The House bill does a few things beyond restricting the state auditor's authority to look into lawmakers' books — it also subjects the governor's office to the public records law for the first time.
- Healey has long said she supports adding her office to the categories of records open to the public.
- She made it a campaign promise in 2022 and has voluntarily opened some documents, most notably her schedules, to public scrutiny for the first time.
Yes, but: The portion of the bill that restricts Auditor Diana DiZoglio's investigation into the Legislature is radioactive and nothing Healey wants to have to consider in an election year.
Catch up quick: Voters approved the legislative audit authority by 72% in 2024. Since then, the General Court has resisted the audit and the whole thing is at the mercy of the courts.
- After the SJC intervened recently and allowed a portion of the audit to go forward, the Senate voluntarily handed over some documents.
Between the lines: The Senate treated the ruling as a narrow compliance question, while the House took it as a chance to lock in legislative supremacy via statute.
Reality check: The House bill goes to a skeptical Senate that has has already made some compromises on the audit and shown little interest in changing the law itself.
- Healey faces political pressure against siding with Democratic House leaders over the enormously popular audit.
- GOP gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve has called on Healey to veto the bill if it gets to her desk.
What we're watching: If the Senate decides to sit on the House's bill, the legislation won't get to Healey and won't be her problem.
- But if the House and Senate cut a deal and pass the audit rewrite, Healey will be forced to either go along with Democratic leaders or veto a bill that would accomplish her public records campaign promise.