Legislating performance audit bill that exempts the legislature?

Dear Editor:

Voters are mad about what they believe is irresponsible spending by state legislators. They want accountability. Legislators know accountability can be obtained through performance audits, and no legislator wants to go home without voting for one, but they’re afraid to let the state auditor do them.

Their solution? Draft up something called a performance audit bill that puts the legislature in charge, neutralizes the state auditor (but doesn’t plainly say so), and establishes a citizens’ oversight board for good measure. Oh, and exempts the legislature itself from the audit.

The House and Senate each have one of these bills and most legislators have voted "yes" already. Both bills set up another complex, expensive government bureaucracy which will serve the purpose of sounding good to the folks back home, while avoiding the state auditor and the tough, objective standards that define comprehensive performance audits.

Some lawmakers did not understand what they were voting for at the time, but they do now. To be genuine, performance audits must be independent. There’s nothing independent about audits conducted under the authority of the spenders themselves and their hand-picked citizen advisors.

It remains to be seen whether or not legislators will amend their decision. Some are unhappy about the way these bills turned out. Others will just use their vote to enhance their next political campaign.

Sincerely,

Lynn Harsh
Executive Director
Evergreen Freedom Foundation

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