Massachusetts ballot question 1: Auditing the legislature

Question 1 on the Massachusetts ballot would grant the state auditor the authority to audit the legislature on things like accounts, programs and functions. A "yes" vote would grant that authority, while a "no" vote would make no change in the law.

Mary Connaughton from the Pioneer Institute representing YES on 1 and political science professor Jerold Duquette arguing NO on 1 shared their arguments on Boston Public Radio.

GBH News is a premier source for in-depth local news and original story telling based in Boston, Massachusetts.

[GBHNews]

Where do you stand on ballot question 1?

[stevensweet]

These people work for us! When will they get that? Vote yes!

[stephanieduclos]

VOTE YES VOTE YES VOTE YES. This is not unconstitutional. Clearly this guy is in the pockets of the legislature. Promoting a book? The legislature needs ACCOUNTABILITY

[AMDnate]

Why even host this debate if the moderators are going to keep interrupting one of the speakers?

[stephanieduclos]

Vote yes! This was initiated by THE PEOPLE

[erinolson]

I’m still confused how to vote on this question . I need layman’s terms for layman’s terms 😂

[nancygermain]

Spotted shirt stop interrupting it rude and bullying. Please LET BOTH SIDES SPEAK FULLY.

[bostonpicker]

A stable legislature? Was “stable” the term that the male debater used? If Massachusetts has a stable legislature, is it because they’re ineffective? Or are they ineffective because they are “stable”? And what criteria are used to label the MA legislature stable?

[JeoJetsonmusic]

So basically vote yes and let the sjc decide constitutionality

[BERSERKERNA]

We the people want to know where our tax money goes.
Full stop.

[ammaleslie]

The legislature is more than just another agency of the government.

[stephanirose]

There should be an open window into the people of Massachusetts and all across America knowing what happens at every level of government. If the government is supposed to be for the people and by the people- then laws and votes and committees and laws should be up to the people- yet it’s up to the government to uphold those laws and policies

[adiinbar]

I came in with no preconceived opinions on this and a totally open mind. I find the case for voting no extraordinarily weak. He makes no practical arguments whatsoever against it; his sole argument is that it's against the state constitution for highly technical reasons and would be overturned. Well, our role as voters is to decide the _political_ question; it's not for us to act as judges and resolve intricate constitutional questions few of us have the background to evaluate. We vote on whether it's a good idea, and then it's for the lawyers and the courts to hash out whether there's a technical violation of constitutional principles. If we pass this and the courts overturn it, saying that we'll need to pass an amendment to make this happen, I won't gripe. But it's a poor argument to vote against the ballot initiative because (trust me bro) it's going to be overturned by the courts anyway on arcane legal grounds. Since, apparently, there aren't any arguments why it's a bad idea politically, I've been convinced to vote yes.

[stephanirose]

And everyone in any government job that has anything to do with laws and policies should all be voted in by the people

[Kevin-vmwn]

The legislature has no problem voting to pass unconstitutional laws violating the rights of the citizens but says authorizing the state auditors to audit the legislature is unconstitutional ?? They should be audited, then the taxpayers can see exactly how our tax dollars are used and exactly what they are used on . Audit them !!!

[stephanirose]

Of course any constitutional workers don’t want the people to have the power of voting in laws and policies all the constitutional workers want the power

[beacher]

Holy cow this guy was great! Respecting institutions and norms is good actually. Our institutions are awesome in America and populist brainrot is cancerous. You have to win elections, next time don’t reject ranked choice voting mass!

[travisjxxx]

Vote yes And vote for John deaton, Warren has got to go.