Study finds state governments at risk for corruption; New Jersey listed as most transparent
Source: Washington Post
State governments lack transparency and accountability to citizens, and remain at high risk for corruption, according to a new study of all 50 statehouses.
Not a single state received an A in the State Integrity Investigation ranking, a product of the Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International and Global Integrity.
Its 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, theres 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.
One of the major findings was that even when ethics laws are passed, they are difficult to enforce and lack meaningful consequences for violators.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/study-finds-state-governments-at-risk-for-corruption-new-jersey-listed-as-most-transparent/2012/03/18/gIQAhzayKS_story.html
The study site: http://www.stateintegrity.org
They have a Facebook page, which seems to be something you might kick a "like" to: https://www.facebook.com/StateIntegrityInvestigation
nanabugg
(2,198 posts)groundloop
(11,522 posts)I never would have thought that Nathan Deal, who resigned his House seat to avoid an ethics probe, could get elected governor.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)That is dated. It doesn't mention Jerry Brown. Can we assume that the Brown administration is less corrupt? Or is that website out of date?
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)The problem there, and I speak as a former journalist who covered multiple beats in NJ for decades, is what goes on after the open public meetings are over.
JackBeck
(12,359 posts)Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (both D-Bergen) have introduced a bill that would bring letter and spirit closer together. S1451/A2426 requires public bodies to conduct the publics business more openly, as well as provide members of their communities more details about the issues considered at their meetings.
The bill addresses advancements in technology that have changed civic life significantly since 1975. Today, smartphones and other devices have enabled government bodies to vote on issues with no discussion before the public. But S1451/A2426 will prohibit members of public bodies from having private communications about the publics business at public meetings, including conversations held by e-mail, text-messaging or other electronic means.
Government agencies with websites would also have to post agendas, minutes, resolutions and ordinances online under the bill.
If passed, S1451/A2426 would also require public bodies to include more information on official agendas and meeting minutes about the subject being discussed.
http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2012/03/this_sunshine_week_reminding_l.html