[StBernard] The Most (And Least) Corrupt States In the Union

[Westley Annis]

Darn, Mississippi beat us out


The Most (And Least) Corrupt States In the Union




By Jason Simpkins <http://www.outsiderclub.com/editors/jason-simpkins>  2014-06-12

Corruption is rampant at the federal level.
That's a given.
U.S. Senators ake huge handouts in exchange for political favors. House Representatives are wined and dined by lobbyists who write legislation on their behalf. Members of both parties pack pounds of pork into bills, sending scores of money back to their home states.
But what about the state level?
As Chris Christie's bridge scandal demonstrated, state legislatures and governors are rife with corruption, as well.
Or how about Rod Blagojevich? Remember him?
How corrupt is the state you live in?
This should give you some   
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong and Indiana University have studied more than 25,000 cases of public officials convicted for corruption violations between 1976 and 2008. They also analyzed patterns of state spending to develop an index of the most and least corrupt states in the Union.
Here are the 10 most corrupt:
1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. Tennessee
4. Illinois
5. Pennsylvania
6. Alabama
7. Alaska
8. South Dakota
9. Kentucky
10. Florida
I must confess, as an Atlantic City native, I am shocked that New Jersey did not crack this list...
Seriously, I'm almost disappointed.
And the least corrupt states?
1. Oregon
2. Washington
3. Minnesota
4. Nebraska
5. Iowa
6. Vermont
7. Utah
8. New Hampshire
9. Colorado
10. Kansas
Part-and-parcel to being less corrupt is spending less.
According to the study, in nine out of the 10 of the most corrupt states, overall state spending was higher than in less corrupt states. South Dakota was the only exception.
“States with higher levels of corruption are likely to favor construction, salaries, borrowing, correction, and police protection at the expense of social sectors such as education, health and hospitals,” the study said.
Coincidentally, Mississippi ranks 9th in debt as a percentage of gross state product, despite being 31st in population. Illinois is 7th.
Nebraska carries the least amount of debt.
Get paid,
 Jason Simpkins Signature<https://images.angelpub.com/2013/49/22393/jason-simpkins-signature-small.png> 
Jason Simpkins