Cataldo audit vote blocks public interest
Elected officials are supposed to be our voice, not a shield for corporate-style secrecy.
In November 2024, 72% of Massachusetts voters — including a clear majority (71.4%) in Acton — passed Ballot Question 1 to grant State Auditor Diana DiZoglio explicit authority to audit the state Legislature.
Unfortunately, state Rep. Simon Cataldo chose to ignore his constituents. By voting for House Bill 5469 on June 3, Representative Cataldo joined legislative leaders in a blatant attempt to limit the scope of this voter-approved audit.
As auditor DiZoglio pointed out, legislative leaders are attempting to “negate everything that you voted for” while engineering a political “victory lap” cloaked in false transparency. The restrictive bill shields lawmakers from true independent oversight, allowing the Legislature to essentially audit itself through private, controlled vendors. DiZoglio has spent nearly two years fighting the Beacon Hill power structure just to access basic records, including taxpayer-funded monetary settlements and line-item transactions.
The systemic obstruction on Beacon Hill has grown so severe that even the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court had to step in and issue a clear message to Attorney General Andrea Campbell, telling her to “fish or cut bait” and demanding she officially pick a side with 30 days on whether she will represent the auditor’s office or continue blocking the public interest.
On June 3, Cataldo voted to block the public interest. Elected officials are supposed to be our voice, not a shield for corporate-style secrecy. The people of Acton voted “yes” to a full, uncompromised audit. Representative Cataldo needs to fall in line or resign.
George Stepanian
Shaw Farm Road
