BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Since Massachusetts voters gave the state auditor the authority to examine the finances of the legislature in November, the auditor and the legislature have been at odds on how to proceed. After months of debate on when the law took effect, Senate Democrats formed a committee to respond to the auditor's calls for compliance, which released a 5-page response letter on Monday. This letter included several proposed times to meet with the auditor's office, but brought up legal concerns about the audit itself. Massachusetts Republicans push for shelter reform "There is no historical precedent for the OSA [Office of the State Auditor]'s proposed audit...appropriate scope is very much an open question and one that raises unprecedented constitutional issues," the letter read. These alleged constitutional issues are a common refrain among lawmakers and refer to the separation of powers clause. Auditor Diana DiZoglio says these lawmakers are breaking the law and only invited her to meet to reiterate legal concerns. "The people don't want another committee report full of excuses, they want the audit they voted for," DiZoglio said. For months, the auditor has asked for the attorney general to step in and enforce the ballot law, but the attorney general's office says they cannot step in until a lawsuit is filed. Both the Senate committee and the House have floated this idea of allowing DiZoglio to choose an outside, independent auditor to conduct the audit, but DiZoglio says that would directly conflict with the will of the voters. The auditor's office and a coalition of advocacy groups have both promised legal action, and the scope and timeline of the audit will be hashed out in court. Local News Headlines State Senate and auditor still at odds Freezing temps keep ice on rivers and ponds in MA Mass. businesses get federal funds for solar energy Food insecurity impacts nearly 100K in western Massachusetts WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.