Despite claims by House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka that her Office does not have the authority to do so, Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio insists she will go to court if she has to in order to assert her authority to audit the State Legislature.

On a podcast this morning with InsideLowell Founder Teddy Panos, DiZoglio not only dug in for a possible constitutional battle, she produced new evidence of multiple legislative audits conducted in the past. Prior to this morning, the only records known were of a 1922 audit.

After her staff conducted more research, the new Auditor produced records of a 1952 audit, and one report from 1992 that looked into payroll records of a court officer employed by the Sergeant-at-Arms that covered the years 1984-1989. (some of the documents provided to InsideLowell are attached at bottom of this article)

Speaker Mariano released a statement last Friday indicating the House will not cooperate with the audit and called the effort “unconstitutional,” claiming any such assessment is the “sole responsibility of the House.” He also cited  “separation of powers” as another reason the Auditor does not have such authority.

Senate President Spilka issued a similar statement when DiZoglio first announced her audit on March 7th. Spilka also cited separation of powers and asserted they conduct internal audits through the hiring outside firms experienced in such efforts.

The new documents revealed this morning bolster the Auditor’s case her authority to look into legislative dealings is not only constitutional, but is more common than previously believed. During the podcast, DiZoglio continued to hammer the issue, saying “information is power” and that providing transparency provides “power to the people.”