The media is paying special attention to the Center for Public Integrity’s (CPI) recent announcement outlining their new effort to conduct a risk analysis of corruption in all fifty state governments in the USA.
Omidyar Network will supply up to $1 million for the 18-month review and the Rita Allen Foundation has agreed to provide another $500,000 in matching funds to move the project forward.
CPI’s State Accountability Project will rank the states for susceptibility to corruption, assessing the existence and effectiveness of anti-corruption and government transparency measures, political financing, civil service management and state budget processes. CPI and its partners will also create online data, reporting and technology tools to empower citizens to demand greater accountability and reform.
“The patriot Thomas Paine noted that dictatorial government only requires ignorance for its support and warned democracy is at risk when the citizenry is not engaged, informed and monitoring the conduct of leaders,” said Elizabeth Christopherson of the Rita Allen Foundation. “As our nation’s founders rightly concluded, it is government with something to hide that we must fear the most. The State Accountability Project has the potential to transform the good-government dialogue and spur more ethical and open processes in the various states, and to serve as a model on the national level. By emphasizing more accountable leadership, a collaborative approach for achieving it and innovative analysis for monitoring progress, this worthwhile endeavor advances the principles and core values of the Rita Allen Foundation.”
Below is a sampling of some of the press reportssince the unveiling of the State Accountability Project:
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?id=7969510§ion=news%2fpolitics
Up Close with Diana Williams (interview with Caitlin Ginley) Part 3
WABC-TV NYC by Diana Williams February 20, 2011
http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2011/02/18/high-
tide-from-being-spared-jail-time-to-efg-hermes-denials/
General Anti-Corruption:
Commentary and news about money laundering, bribery, terrorism finance and sanctions
Wall Street Journal Corruption Currents blog by Samuel Rubenfeld February 15, 2011
http://articles.philly.com/2011-02-21/news/28614452_1_corruption-
official-state-public-officials
Corruption? It’s practically a state hallmark
Philadelphia Daily News by John Baer February 21, 2011
story.albuquerqueexpress.com/index.php
/ct/9/cid/c08dd24cec417021/id/43144534/
Corruption? It’s practically a state hallmark
Albuquerque Express (source: Philadelphia Daily News) February 21, 2011
http://blogs.app.com/capitolquickies/2011/02/17/probably-
cant-bribe-your-way-down-this-list/
Probably can’t bribe your way down this list
Asbury Park Press by Michael Symons February 17, 2011
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/off-mic/item/13348-is-
harrisburg-sleazier-than-little-rock
Is Harrisburg sleazier than Little Rock?
NewsWorks (home of WHYY News Philly) by Dave Davies February 17, 2011
http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/romenesko/119913/cpi-seeks-
reporters-for-state-government-corruption-probe/
CPI seeks reporters for state government corruption probe
Poynter by Jim Romenesko February 17, 2011
http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/smart-talk-muckrakers-wanted/Content?oid=1562876
Smart Talk: Muckrakers wanted
Arkansas Times February 23, 2011
http://www.current.org/news/news1104statecorruption.html
What do statehouses, city halls do about corruption?
Current.org (Editorially independent service of American University’s School of Communication) by Steve Behrens February 22, 2011
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=328300002
State Accountability Project Receives $1.5 Million in Grants
Philanthropy News Digest, February 24, 2011