And the least corrupt state in the nation is ... New Jersey?

No, that's not a misprint. It's the conclusion of a report released today by the Center for Public Integrity, which spent 18 months conducting on-site research in all 50 state capitols, compiling statistics on everything from political financing to the budget process to ethics enforcement.

New Jersey came out on top in four of the 14 categories and in the top 10 in seven others.

But before we break out the brass bands let's step back for a little perspective. No state scored an "A." New Jersey's top grade was B+, at 87 out of 100 points.

"It's telling that no state received an overall grade of A," said Caitlin Ginley, a staff writer for the Center for Public Integrity and a project manager on the study. "In every state, there's room to improve the ethics laws, the level of transparency on government proceedings, the disclosure of information, and — most importantly — the oversight of these laws.

Room for improvement indeed. Overall, 45 states received average, below average or failing grades. Eight states got an "F." And not the ones you'd think either.

Nineteen states got grades of C, and 18 got a D. Eight states got an 'F,' with grades of 59 or lower: North Dakota, Michigan, South Carolina, Maine, Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota and Georgia.

OK, Michigan I get. But North and South Dakota? Wyoming? And Maine? (Maybe there really is more to that Olympia Snowe retirement than meets the eye!) And how did Illinois escape from picking up 50th place? Sheesh, you send two governors in a row to federal prison and you still can't get an award for most corrupt?

Rahm Emanuel's gonna demand a recount.

Posted at 10:21 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   Comments | Perm Link |
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