The risk of corruption inside state government is higher here than in most other states, according to a new report that gives Ohio an overall grade of D for anti-corruption efforts — 34th-worst in the country.
No state receives an A in the analysis being released today, which comes less than a week after Rep. W. Carlton Weddington, D-Columbus, became the first sitting state lawmaker to be indicted on a bribery charge in 100 years.
“We’re not measuring actual corruption. This is a look at more of the opposite — laws, policies and procedures in place to prevent corruption, and how effective they are,” said Caitlin Ginley, a staff writer for the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity. The center did what it is calling an unprecedented national investigation in partnership with Global Integrity and Public Radio International.
After consulting with experts to come up with 330 things to measure, the groups hired journalists in 50 states to do research and conduct interviews.
Ohio ranked especially poorly in five categories, getting an F or D-minus in lobbying disclosure, the redrawing of congressional maps, and accountability within the legislative, judicial and executive branches.
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