Who knew campaign questionnaires were so controversial?

A clarification has been added to this story.

What started out as a bid for greater transparency in the race for auditor has suddenly become, strangely enough, a battleground in the fight for abortion rights. 

Christopher Dempsey, a Democratic candidate for state auditor, put out a press release recently saying he was posting on his campaign website all of his answers to questionnaires distributed by labor and advocacy groups seeking to find out where he and the other candidates in the race stand on issues important to each group. 

The questionnaires make for interesting reading. For example, the questionnaire of the labor group AFSCME Council 93 presses the candidates on where they stand on privatization of public sector jobs. The council, which represents public sector unions and has endorsed DiZoglio, asks a series of questions about whether the candidates support the so-called Pacheco Law, a controversial statute that requires the auditor to certify whether a privatization initiative would actually save money and provide the same level of service. Many opponents of the law say it is a major barrier to privatization. 

“If people have concerns about the transparency and accountability of the state auditor, then everything the auditor does will be cast with a shadow of doubt and we will lose a critical part of our state’s checks and balances,” Dempsey said in the press release. “I have promised to run a transparent campaign and I promise to be a transparent state auditor.”

So far, DiZioglio and Amore haven’t posted their responses on their websites. Doug Rubin, DiZoglio’s political consultant, sought to turn the tables on Dempsey by issuing a statement suggesting his release of questionnaires was irresponsible in one instance, although he got a key fact wrong.

“Sen. DiZoglio has always been happy to release questionnaires,” Rubin said. “However, in one case relative to Reproductive Equity Now, Diana has been asked by the organization to not release their questionnaire because they believe it would threaten legislative goals and endanger the lives of those seeking health care. Diana stands with these brave advocates for reproductive rights, and it’s unfortunate that Chris Dempsey irresponsibly issued a press release for pure political gain without considering the damage that could be done by such dissemination — especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the ongoing battle to protect reproductive rights here in Massachusetts and across the country.”

Dempsey said in an interview that he’s aware of the concerns raised by Reproductive Equity Now, which is why he hasn’t released that lone questionnaire yet and has been talking with the organization about a safe way to release the information. On his list of answers to campaign questionnaires, it says “coming soon” next to Reproductive Equity Now. 

How the answers to a campaign questionnaire could endanger lives is hard to fathom, but for now it’s become yet another issue in the hotly contested race for auditor.

[Clarification: The original version of this story said Rubin got his facts wrong about Dempsey releasing the Reproductive Equity Now questionnaire, but Rubin insists his statement only pertained to Dempsey’s press release promising to release all of his questionnaires. Rubin said he was aware Dempsey didn’t release the Reproductive Equity Now questionnaire. The reference to getting his facts wrong was removed. By the way, Rubin said DiZoglio will post her questionnaires other than the Reproductive Equity Now one.]

 BRUCE MOHL

FROM COMMONWEALTH

Tax cap to return big bucks: A tax cap law from 35 years ago is expected to return billions to taxpayers, with estimates ranging from $2.5 billion to $3.2 billion. Gov. Charlie Baker says the state can afford it as well as a permanent tax relief package percolating in the Legislature, but top lawmakers aren’t so sure. Read more.

Baker plays hardball: Refusing to let his criminal dangerousness hearing legislation die, Gov. Charlie Baker says he won’t approve free prison phone calls in the state budget unless the Legislature approves his bill. Read more.

In good shape: Gov. Charlie Baker signs a $52.7 billion state budget with a 9.3 percent increase in spending and says he’s leaving office with the state in good financial shape. Read more.

Political speech: The Supreme Judicial Court quickly dismisses a legal challenge to a dental ballot question summary that allegedly contained false information. The court calls the summaries “political speech.” Read more.

No path forward: After a legal review, Senate President Karen Spilka says she sees no way forward for legislative staff unionization. Read more.

OPINION

Legislative staff unionization: Therese Murray, the former president of the Massachusetts Senate, says the issue of unionizing legislative staff raises some issues that are difficult to address. Read more.

Car-lite: Robin Chase, the former CEO of Zipcar, urges the Legislature to pass ebike legislation and in general reward car-lite living. Read more.

Don’t compound debt woes: Claudio Martinez of Zero Debt Massachusetts urges lawmakers to pass legislation that would prevent state agencies from revoking or denying professional licenses or certificates to anyone in default on student loans. Read more. 

FROM AROUND THE WEB

BEACON HILL

The Legislature passes the Beagle Bill, which would require facilities that do research and testing on animals to then offer them up for adoption. (MassLive)

MUNICIPAL MATTERS  

Somerville moves closer to becoming the first community in the state to run a supervised drug consumption site, which may just be a trailer set up as a clinic. (WBUR)

Boston notched another victory in its battle with the city of Quincy to rebuild the bridge to Long Island, as a court rules in its favor in a dispute over environmental permitting. (Boston Globe) 

ELECTIONS

Essex Sheriff Kevin Coppinger and his challenger Virginia Leigh differ on the role of a sheriff. (Salem News)

Lieutenant governor candidate Kim Driscoll says she will have enough money to be competitive, despite being outraised by Eric Lesser. (MassLive) Lesser just launched his first TV ad. (MassLive)

Former Republican congressman David Jolly, ex-GOP New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, and former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang announce they’re launching a new third party, and say it will succeed where others have failed. (Washington Post) 

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Workers at Trader Joe’s in Hadley have become the first in the national chain of more than 500 stores to unionize. (Daily Hampshire Gazette) 

JetBlue agrees to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion. (Associated Press)

EDUCATION

Public school enrollment in the state has fallen by 4 percent amid the pandemic, and by more than 10 percent in some communities, including Amesbury, Brookline, Marblehead, Rockport, Wellesley, and Wilmington. (Boston Globe) 

TRANSPORTATION

Passengers injured escaping an Orange Line train that caught fire have hired a law firm. (MassLive)

The Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker disagree on how to expand the MBTA board. (MassLive)

Evening service on the Braintree branch of the Red Line will be suspended for two weeks, with “bustitution” available, while safety-focused repairs are made. (Boston Herald) 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/COURTS

Congressional candidate Dean Tran pleads not guilty to larceny charges, and alleges that the charges are politically motivated. (Telegram & Gazette)

A class-action suit filed by three inmates at MCI-CedarJunction charges that the use of solitary confinement by the state Department of Correction amounts to torture. (Boston Globe) 

A Barnstable police officer who escorted the son of the State Police superintendent out of court after he pleaded not guilty to improper weapons storage was not authorized to do so. (Cape Cod Times)

Nemasket Week, a free weekly, launches to cover Middleborough and Lakeville. (Media Nation)