Midwest Boasts Some of Most/Least Corrupt Governments
MILWAUKEE, WI (The MPJ) — When you live in the Midwest, it’s easy to follow common conceptions as to whose state is the most or least crooked. Often, fingers get pointed at Illinois and Ohio for being the most corrupt in the region. Wisconsin and Iowa are often pointed to as paragons of good government.
Well, a report out from the State Integrity Investigation, a combined project of The Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity, and Public Radio International has some interesting news, not only for state governments in the Midwest, but nationwide.
On a national level, not a single state got an “A” from the group. The best score was an 87%, or “B+,” for…get this…New Jersey. The very same New Jersey where government corruption has been so rampant as to become a source of humor.
The worst? Georgia, with a score of 49%.
So where does the Midwest begin…and end?
The best in the Midwest is the State of Iowa. Iowa got a 78% score (C+), just behind Mississippi, ranking it 7th among the 60 states. Iowa, however, did get an “F” for “Public Access to Information.”
In second place, which will surprise most Midwesterners, is Illinois at 74% (C) ranking 10th nationwide. Illinois’ sole “F” came from “Redistricting,” which is a topic we’ve covered here in the past.
All the way at the bottom…Michigan. Michigan got a 58% (F) overall, ranking 43rd of 50 states. The Wolverine State got failing grades in “Executive Accountability,” “Judicial Accountability,” “State Civil Service Management,” “State Pension Fund Management,” “State Insurance Commissions,” “Political Financing,” Legislative Accountability,” “Lobbying Disclosure,” “Ethics Enforcement Agencies,” and “Redistricting.” That’s ten of the fourteen categories the study scored states on.
Regardless of your state’s score, understand it’s nothing to be particularly proud of. Check out the full national picture here. And see the Midwest just below.
| State | Score | Grade | Failures | Midwest Rank | National Rank |
| Iowa | 78% | C+ | 1/14 | 1/9 | 7/50 |
| Illinois | 74% | C | 1/4 | 2/9 | 10/50 |
| Missouri | 72% | C- | 3/14 | 3/9 | 15/50 |
| Kentucky | 71% | C- | 3/14 | 4/9 | 18/50 |
| Indiana | 70% | C- | 4/14 | 5/9 | 22/50 |
| Wisconsin | 70% | C- | 1/14 | 5/9 | 22/50 |
| Minnesota | 69% | D+ | 4/14 | 7/9 | 25/50 |
| Ohio | 66% | D | 3/14 | 8/9 | 34/50 |
| Michigan | 58% | F | 10/14 | 9/9 | 43/50 |