Missouri Government: D’s Don’t Get Degrees

Missouri ranks in 22nd place. Not bad. Not great. A bit below average, sure, but with room for improvement.

In a study by the Chicago-based Better Government Association, Missouri’s state government placed 22nd overall in the Integrity Index. The judging included five categories:

• open record laws
• whistleblower laws
• campaign finance laws
• open meetings laws
• conflict of interest laws

A high point of the study is the fact that Missouri ranked 4th for whistleblower protection laws. Overall, Missouri was handed a 53 percent score. Not a grade that will make it on the refrigerator, especially compared to Lisa’s A+++. Our low point, unsurprisingly involves campaign finance laws, where we ranked 42nd. Wow. Not surprising, especially considering some of Missouri’s stories.

Here’s a little more info on Missouri’s campaign finance laws. And, in case you were wondering, New Jersey placed first overall and Arizona placed first for campaign finance laws.