Top Mass. Democrats leave door open for election law changes – NBC Boston

The leaders of both Massachusetts legislative chambers on Tuesday did not rule out changing the ballot questions that pollsters say are favored by most voters ahead of next month’s election. And on the question, which is intended to allow for scrutiny of the legislature itself, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate would not rule out a full repeal.

House Speaker Ronald Mariano followed up his criticism of Comptroller Diana DiZoglio’s campaign on Question 1, questioning the comptroller’s use of “state funds” to release a report this week outlining the arguments behind her initiative campaign shortly before election day.

Asked by reporters, Mariano said he was not walling off his branch and was seeking an outright repeal of one of this year’s five ballot questions if they become law on Election Day.

“I don’t know,” Mariano replied when a reporter asked whether any of the questions suggested a “clean electoral fate.”

The question was about the Clean Elections Act, a state political campaign funding law that voters approved by an overwhelming 66% in the 1998 election.

In 2003, the Clean Elections Act was finally scrapped by the legislature without ever fully implementing it. This episode illustrated how the legislature can have the final say on an issue, regardless of voters’ intent.

Senate President Karen Spilka left the door open to possible legislative action to respond to a successful Question 2 that would eliminate the MCAS test as a requirement for high school graduation. Gov. Maura Healey and other top officials have said they are concerned that Massachusetts is being left without statewide standards for obtaining a high school diploma.

“We’ll see. We will have some discussions if it is adopted and then we will follow up. You know, I’m not in favor of getting rid of MCAS. I think it’s done, some assessments have been made, Massachusetts. “Well, we will, we will discuss it,” Spilka said of a possible role for the Legislature.

Regarding the changes to Question 2, Mariano said, “Well, someone has to evaluate what we’re doing in our public school system.”

The Quincy Democrat added that “it may be premature to forego an assessment tool.”

The speaker told reporters after a Diwali celebration in the Great Hall that he had not yet decided how to proceed with answering Question 1. A recent UMass Amherst poll this month found 63% of respondents in favor of it.

“We’ll see. We’ll see what the scope is,” Mariano said when asked if he would try to repeal or amend the potential law.

The speaker went on to criticize the report released Monday by DiZoglio, which criticized the House and Senate for a lack of “transparency and accountability” and called on legislative leaders to “open the doors to an audit by the auditor’s office” – exactly that , which is what question 1 is trying to enforce.

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

“You know, releasing a report using state money and state resources, advocating your position on a ballot question that you co-introduced, raises some real questions about the auditor’s role and its seriousness,” Mariano said.

Spilka did not directly respond to a question about repealing or amending a possible revision bill, saying she would “see which path it takes.”

With a number of implementation ballot questions potentially heading their way this year, Mariano and Spilka’s openness to revising voter-approved laws could translate into relatively quick action in the chambers this fall or winter.

After Bay Staters passed the cannabis legalization bill on Election Day 2016, lawmakers less than two months later passed a bill that delayed implementation of parts of the law. The branches used the extra time to rewrite voter-approved language next year.

The bill to delay the effect of the Cannabis Act suddenly surfaced during an informal session three days after Christmas 2016, during a quiet holiday period when there are usually few lawmakers and few spectators in the chambers.

As for some other questions, Mariano said he hasn’t decided yet. He said he understands both sides of the “dilemma” of Question 5, which involves tipping workers’ wages.

And as for Question 4, which would legalize certain psychedelic drugs and allow them to be cultivated and distributed in private, the speaker — who turns 78 next Thursday — seemed to be pointing to an earlier experience.

“Ah, psychedelics. I’ve outgrown this stuff. No, there isn’t – I don’t know. I don’t know, I’ll find out,” Mariano said of his position on Question 4.

The speaker’s office later told the news service that he was “joking” with the remark.

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

“Oh yeah. I always vote on election day,” he said. “It’s my chance to be in the neighborhood and walk around.”