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In July 2009 I wrote an article proudly touting the deep-seated, mind-blowing corruption we have in New Jersey.
Now it seems that New Jersey is #1 in corruption busting. Go figure.
^^^
New Jersey (no kidding) is among best corruption fighters
* States doing poor job fighting corruption
* Only five states receive "B" grade, none get "A"
* Ailing newspapers' watchdog role weakening
by Ian Simpson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite a well-deserved reputation for scandals, New Jersey is among the state leaders in the fight against official corruption, with most states doing a poor job, according to a wide-ranging study released on Monday.
Five states received a "B" grade for accountability and transparency and eight got an "F" in the investigation by the nonprofit groups Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity and Public Radio International. No state got an "A."
The 18-month project is the most comprehensive study of state laws and practices that bolster openness and deter corruption, the investigators said.
The five states receiving "B" grades were New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, California and Nebraska. The eight failing states were North Dakota, Michigan, South Carolina, Maine, Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota and Georgia at the bottom.
Nineteen states got a "C" and 18 received a "D."
For New Jersey, whose popular image is fused with TV's mob drama "The Sopranos," being among the leaders is "counter-intuitive" but a tribute to its corruption-fighting reforms, said Nathaniel Heller, managing director of Global Integrity.
But, he added, "To be at the top of this list is sort of to win a beauty contest where not anybody is particularly pretty to start with."
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NEW JERSEY TOPS LIST
As a prime example of how scandals can lead to reform, New Jersey got a "B+" despite a reputation for corruption that saw Governor Chris Christie bust more than 100 public officials while a U.S. attorney, earning him a reputation as a tough-talking conservative.
Reforms by lawmakers and good-government groups mean "New Jersey now has some of the toughest ethics and anti-corruption laws in the nation," investigators said.
New Jersey ranks first in the integrity investigation for ethics enforcement, first for executive branch accountability and fourth for procurement practices.
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