Alaska Gets Grade of D+ on "Corruption Risk Report Card"

Anchorage--


A comprehensive study released Monday gives Alaska a D+ on a "Corruption Risk Report Card," ranking the Last Frontier 27th among the 50 states.   


Alaska was also graded on 14 categories related to accountability, transparency, and efforts against corruption.    The grading there was low, with marks of F for "Public Access to Information," "State Pension Fund Management," "State Budget Processes," and "Redistricting."   


The summary on the 49th State in the State Integrity Investigation states "Alaska boasts relatively strong ethics laws, but loopholes and a lack of oversight result in less accountability in practice than on paper."  Sean Cockerham--also a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News--wrote an article specifically for this study surveying the Last Frontier's issues with corruption and accountability.  As noted on this blog, the Alaska Legislature enacted legislation strengthening ethics laws after the federal investigation into public corruption exposed much unseemly conduct on the Last Frontier.


The study was produced by the Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity, and Public Radio International.