Corruption Risk Report Card
Rank among 50 states:
12th
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Massachusetts passed a strong ethics reform law in 2009, but a culture of secrecy undermines public confidence in government. Read more from SII State Reporters Maggie Mulvihill, Matt Porter, and Kirsten Berg.
Mar 26, 2012
By Maggie Mulvihill
New England Center for Investigative Reporting
Just days after the State Integrity Investigation found Massachusetts earns a “C” for preventing corruption in state government, a Boston judge ordered a former lawmaker and his campaign treasurer to pay fines and restitution for tens of thousands of dollars in campaign finance violations.
Former state representative Brian Wallace (pictured, right), a Democrat from South Boston, pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court on Tuesday to one charge of failing to report campaign contributions and one charge of failing to preserve records.
Wallace is the seventh Boston politician since 2007 to face criminal charges. The past three consecutive speakers of the state House of Representative have been found guilty of federal felonies.
Mar 23, 2012
State Integrity news from Massachusetts from SII partner WGBH:
Like many states, Massachusetts has a history of corrupt lawmakers. Currently, the state probation department is under investigation and Sal DiMasi is in the clink — the third House speaker in a row to be disgraced. So what's the risk for ongoing corruption in the Bay State? We asked you to grade Massachusetts on how corrupt it actually is.
Read more from WGBH - Boston.
Mar 20, 2012
State Integrity news from Massachusetts from SII partner WGBH:
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is responding to a nationwide report on corruption that looked at all branches of state government, and examined our laws and their effectiveness.
Patrick said his office goes above and beyond the law when it comes to transparency.
Read more from WGBH - Boston.
Mar 19, 2012
State Integrity news for Massachusetts from SII Partner WGBH:
Massachusetts has an embarrassing history of government corruption, but you might be surprised to learn how we stack up against the other 49 states. On today’s show, we dig into the results of a five-month, nationwide investigation that looked at everything from public access to information, transparency, lobbying, and the strength of ethics rules.
Listen to a discussion on "The Emily Rooney Show" with Caitlin Ginley, senior writer at the Center for Public Integrity; Maggie Mulvihill, associate director at the New England Center for Investigative Reporting; and Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe columnist.
Mar 19, 2012
State Integrity News from Massachusetts from SII partner WGBH:
Massachusetts history is smeared with episodes of corruption in every generation. In the '60s, bribes to build the Boston Common garage. In the '70s, bribes to build the UMass Boston campus ... and up until today, with three consecutive House speakers convicted of crimes.
But according to the State Integrity study, 40 other states have a greater risk of corruption than Massachusetts. The Bay State's "C" grade ranks close to the top, trailing only nine other states — including first-place finisher New Jersey. Yes, New Jersey, a state with a notorious reputation for corruption ... but one that has responded by passing laws to turn things around.
Hear the story from WGBH - Boston.
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