Top Massachusetts Democrats leave door open for voting law changes – NBC Boston

Leaders of both Massachusetts legislative chambers on Tuesday did not rule out changing questions on the ballot that polls show a majority of voters favor ahead of next month’s election. As for the issue seeking to audit the Legislature itself, the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate have not ruled out a complete repeal.

House Speaker Ronald Mariano, continuing to criticize Auditor Diane DiZoglio’s Issue 1 campaign, questioned the auditor’s use of “public money” to release a report this week bolstering her initiative campaign’s arguments ahead of Election Day.

When asked by reporters, Mariano did not give up on his department, seeking a complete repeal of any of this year’s five ballot questions if they become law on Election Day.

“I don’t know,” Mariano responded when a reporter asked whether any of the issues could be called “the fate of a clean election.”

The question was a reference to the Clean Elections Act, a law governing the financing of public political campaigns that voters overwhelmingly approved in the 1998 election (66%).

In 2003, lawmakers struck the Clean Elections Act from the books without ever fully implementing it. The episode demonstrated how the Legislature can have the final say on an issue, regardless of the voters’ intentions.

Senate President Karen Spilka left the door ajar for possible legislative action in response to the successful Question 2, which would eliminate the MCAS test as a requirement for high school graduation. Gov. Maura Healey and other senior officials said they are concerned that Massachusetts will be left without any statewide standards for high school diploma completion.

“Let’s see. If it passes, we’ll have some discussions and then keep an eye on it. You know, I’m not in favor of getting rid of MCAS. I believe it’s done, some assessment has been done, Massachusetts. Well, let’s discuss it,” Spilka said about the possible role of the Legislative Assembly.

Regarding the changes in the second question, Mariano said, “Well, somebody needs to evaluate what we’re doing in our public school system.”

The Quincy Democrat added that “it may be premature to abandon any assessment tool.”

The speaker told reporters after Diwali celebrations in the Great Hall that he had not yet decided how to proceed on Question 1, which the latest University of Massachusetts Amherst poll showed this month had 63% support.

“Let’s see. We’ll see how much of a difference it makes,” Mariano said when asked whether he would seek repeal or amendment of the potential legislation.

The speaker criticized DiZoglio’s report released Monday, which criticized the House and Senate for a lack of “transparency and accountability” and called on legislative leaders to “open the door” to an audit by the auditor – exactly what Question 1 seeks to force.

DiZolio, who was the lead campaigner on Question 1, released the report Monday in her official capacity as a constitutional officer.

“You know, releasing a report using public money, public resources, taking a stand on a ballot issue that you helped put on the ballot, raises some real questions about the auditor’s role and the seriousness of it,” Mariano said.

Spilka did not directly respond to questions about repealing or changing the potential audit law, saying she would “see what it takes.”

With a number of ballot questions potentially on the table this year, Mariano and Spilka’s openness to reviewing voter-approved laws could lead to fairly swift action in the House this fall or winter.

After Bay Staters approved legislation to legalize cannabis on Election Day 2016, less than two months later lawmakers passed a bill delaying implementation of parts of the law. Affiliates used the extra time to rewrite voter-approved language next year.

The cannabis reprieve bill suddenly surfaced during an informal session three days after Christmas in 2016, during a quiet holiday period when chambers typically have few lawmakers and few spectators in attendance.

On some other issues, Mariano said he had not yet made a decision. He said he understands both sides of Question 5’s “predicament,” which deals with tipped wages for workers.

And on Question 4, which would legalize some psychedelic drugs and allow them to be grown and distributed privately, the speaker, who turns 78 next Thursday, seemed to allude to previous experience.

“Ah, psychedelics. I’ve outgrown this thing. No, no – I don’t know. I don’t know, I’ll figure it out,” Mariano said of his position on Question 4.

The Speaker’s office later told the News Service that he was “kidding” when he made the remark.

Like most other Bay State voters waiting until Election Day to fill their bubbles, Mariano still has two weeks to make his decision.

“Oh yes. I always vote on Election Day,” he said. “This is my chance to be in the neighborhood and take a walk.”