The state Legislature isn’t working for taxpayers.

The one-party system with a governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor (more on her below) all true-blue Democrats robs Massachusetts of the dissenting voices desperately needed for the smooth operation of any democracy.

Just look at the migrant crisis. The $1 billion-a-year tab is already haunting us. But that’s not today’s appeal.

You can send a message Tuesday by electing watchdog candidates fed up with the status quo on the Hill. This is sadly not a tipping point. A few new faces won’t rattle the leadership, but it’s a start.

Dooner for state Senate

Taunton City Councilor Kelly Dooner of Taunton (R) is up against Raynham Selectman Joe Pacheco (D) for a Taunton-based Senate seat.

Vote Dooner.

She is the candidate behind the news of a staggering 672,483 new EBT cards having been added to the welfare rolls in a little over a year — a tally that’s intensifying calls for an audit of the welfare agency.

The startling 34.6% jump is being reported from July of 2023 to last month by the state Department of Transitional Assistance after Dooner sought the data in a public records request.

This is exactly the brand of can-do savvy taxpayers deserve in the State House. The DTA has a lot of reasons for the EBT flood, making an audit all the more vital. But the party in power is more about protecting their turf. It’s time to make them uncomfortable.

Muratore for state rep

State Rep. Matt Muratore (R) of Plymouth is up against Rep. Dylan Fernandes (D) of Falmouth for a South Shore and Cape Cod Senate seat.

Fernandes dreams of someday succeeding Bill Keating in Congress as another rubber stamp. Best to get rid of Fernandes sooner rather than later.

Vote Muratore

Others to back

Dan Sullivan, a registered nurse, is running in the Cape and Islands Congressional District against entrenched incumbent Bill Keating.

Nurse Dan is a longshot, but he at least questioned Keating about his state pension of $115,879 a year on top of his Congressional salary of $175,000. Is this what the taxpayers want?

Same goes for Robert “Close the Border” Burke. He’s up against incumbent U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch.

Again, a struggle. But as we stated, it’s a start.

Of the 160 seats in the state House of Representatives, the local GOP is only contesting 48. Of 40 state Senate seats, the Republicans are only fielding candidates in 13 districts. A few wins could begin to change that equation.

The auditor

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is asking voters to allow her to do her job and audit the Legislature. We’ve already backed that appeal by supporting Question 1. 

Her quixotic attempt at transparency will be challenged in court and thwarted by the powerbrokers in her own party. But at least taxpayers can send a message that senators and representatives are paid by taxpayers and it’s time to send a few of them back into the private sector where they will have to work for a living — and compromise.

The MassGOP is on the rebound, so this isn’t the last crop of candidates you’ll see with an R next to them. We urge you to send a message to Beacon Hill, that the one-party system is a lemon.

Editorial cartoon by Steve Kelley (Creators Syndicate)