Lacking Integrity in State Government
State Integrity news for Michigan from Michigan Radio:
First, the bad news: A State Integrity Commission yesterday released a new study of ethics and integrity in state governments across the United States. To quote the New York Times, it found:
“Most states shy away from public scrutiny, fail to enact or enforce ethics laws, and allow corporations and the wealthy a dominant voice in elections and policy decisions.”
That’s the bad news. Now for worse; Michigan is among the worst of the worst.
Read and hear more from Michigan Radio.
Georgia Ranks Dead Last in State-by-State Ethics Study: The View from Both Sides
State Integrity news from Georgia from WABE:
On March 19th, the Center for Public Integrity released a state-by-state ranking of ethics laws and enforcement. The report was a joint project of CPI, Public Radio International, and Global Integrity. WABE's Denis O'Hayer got in-depth reviews of the report from both sides: Jim Walls, the Atlanta-based journalist who compiled the Georgia report, and Rick Thompson, a former executive secretary of the State Ethics Commission.
Hear the discussion from WABE - Atlanta.
Missouri & Kansas Ranked On State Corruption And Transparency
State Integrity news for Missouri and Kansas from SII partner KCUR:
In the first portion of Wednesday's Up to Date, Steve Kraske welcomes former KPR statehouse reporter Peter Hancock and former Business Journal and the Star reporter Mike Sherry to share the results of the data they collected for the project.
University of Kansas political science professor Burdett Loomis and Missouri State University political science professor George Connor join Hancock and Sherry to discuss the findings and explain what they mean for the states' residents and governments, how influence and corruption is treated in Kansas vs. Missouri.
Listen to the discussion from KCUR - Kansas City.
A Failing Grade for ND Government
State Integrity news for North Dakota from Prairie Public Radio:
A new report says most state governments are doing a poor job delivering transparency and accountability, with statehouses being ripe for corruption and self-dealing. How does North Dakota rank? We’ll reveal that answer when we visit with project manager Caitlin Ginley.
Hear more from Prairie Public Radio.
Following the cash in Washington elections is tough
State integrity news from Washington from SII partner KUOW:
Overall, Washington ranks as the third most transparent and accountable state in the nation. That’s according to a new State Integrity Investigation. It was conducted by the Center for Public Integrity and Public Radio International. But the report did find in the area of campaign finance the information can be pretty difficult to find even if it’s disclosed.
Read and hear more from KUOW - Seattle.
National Study Gives Maine Failing Grade in Government Transparency
State Integrity news for Maine from the Maine Public Broadcasting Network:
A national study released today finds Maine to be more at risk of corruption than most other states. The State Integrity Investigation was carried out by three nonpartisan journalism and reporting groups to assess government accountability and transparency across the 50 states. Maine was awarded an "F," and placed 46th in the nation.
Tom Porter spoke to two Maine journalists who carried out the research for Maine.
Hear more from the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
Oregon Ranks 14th in Corruption Risk Index
State Integrity news for Oregon from SII partner Oregon Public Broadcasting:
The State Integrity Invesigation is a state-by-state accounting of the risk of corruption in state governments.
The study didn't look at how corrupt each state is. Instead, it looked at the mechanisms to prevent corruption in each state. The areas identified as the most corruptible in Oregon were campaign finance, lobbyist spending, public records requests, and conflict of interest regulations.
April Baer, the OPB News pointperson for the study, discusses it on OPB's "Think Out Loud."
Listen to it from OPB.
Sum up your reactions to state corruption with a haiku
From Eric Walter at SII partner WHYY:
A haiku, inspired by reports coming today from the State Integrity Investigation:
Anyone surprised
by corruption in the state
is far too trusting
New Jersey should be excited that the state was found to have among the nation's toughest ethics and anti-corruption laws. But to rank the best in the nation for transparency and accountability, all it needed was a B+. No state could be called an overachiever, but New Jersey's upset has us feeling poetic.
Read more from WHYY - Philadelphia.
Washington Scores Well On Transparency, But Up To Citizens To Verify
Posted
on Partner station coverage
by State Integrity Investigation
· March 19, 2012 9:19 PM
· 1 reaction
State Integrity news for Washington from SII partner KUOW:
Washington's Public Records Act and other transparency measures have earned the state a high score in a nationwide study. The State Integrity Investigation looked at every state's disclosure practices. It ranked Washington third in the country, with a letter grade of B–. But budget cuts are curtailing investigations by government watchdogs. And all three branches of government have tried to put more of their records outside the law's scrutiny. KUOW's Amy Radil reports.
Hear the story from KUOW - Seattle.
NH Scores a "D" For Campaign Finance Laws
State Integrity news for New Hampshire from SII partner New Hampshire Public Radio:
A study released today called the State Integrity Investigationgives New Hampshire a D grade in its political finance laws, citing a poor disclosure calendar and a bad website for displaying campaign donation documents.But even in a state that prides itself on open government, campaign finance reform has never been an easy sell.
Hear the story from New Hampshire Public Radio.
