Monday, March 19, 2012

Kansas ranks among the top 10 states in a study of government transparency, accountability and anti-corruption mechanisms.

The state is one of 19 to receive an average grade of "C" in the State Integrity Investigation, conducted by the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International and Global Integrity.

The study found that states are doing a poor job delivering accountability and transparency to their residents.

No state received an A from the months-long probe that looked at 330 "Corruption Risk Indicators" across 14 categories of government.

Kansas scored a 75 in the study, ninth best in the nation, while Missouri also received a C grade with 72 points.

New Jersey had the highest grade with a B-plus. Joining the Garden State in the top five are Connecticut, Washington, California and Nebraska. Nineteen states received Cs and 18 received Ds. Eight states -- North Dakota, Michigan, South Carolina, Maine, Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota and Georgia -- received Fs.