NASHVILLE - Despite scoring only a "D" grade, Tennessee nonetheless placed 15th in a new national analysis of states' transparency and accountability measures aimed at promoting good government and deterring corruption.
Tennessee scored 66, earning it the No. 15 spot among the 50 states, according to the "State Integrity Investigation" study conducted by the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity.
Researchers applied 245 measurements in 13 broad categories of government operations. The report does not purport to assess actual levels of public corruption.
Georgia was awarded a D- based on a score of 63, which placed it as No. 24 among states. Two years ago, the state received an F. Comparatively speaking, Alabama is somewhat of a star with a D+ grade and score of 67.
That earned it the No. 7 ranking nationwide.
No state in the nation scored an A grade.
House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, speaks at a joint conference of the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association in Nashville on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. The top three - Alaska, California and Connecticut - were awarded grades of C, C- and C-, respectively, based on scores of 76, 73 and 70.
Thirty-six states, including Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, were awarded variations on D grades. Eleven states received failing grades with Michigan at the bottom with a score of 50.
The group's report that nationwide state lawmakers and agency officials are conducting business with "glaring conflicts of interest and engage in brazenly cozy relationships with lobbyists. Ethics and open records laws are riddled with loopholes, while the watchdogs meant to enforce them face crippling shortages of cash and staff."
In the 13 categories, Tennessee's highest score was in the internal auditing of government agencies, which is conducted by the state Comptroller. The comptroller's B+ grade and 88 score was enough to make it No. 2 nationally.
The state ranked fourth for state civil service management (C-) and ninth (C-) in executive accountability. Legislative accountability earned a D-. Still, it was enough to propel Tennessee lawmakers in the No. 21 spot nationally.
But Tennessee's judicial accountability flunked the test with an F grade and a 37th slot among states.
And citizens' access to information that helps keep government officials got an F as well along with a No. 37 ranking.
House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, said in a statement that Tennessee has "made great strides over the last decade with regards to our ethics, accountability, and transparency laws and practices."
That came following a 2005 FBI undercover bribery sting that resulted in the convictions of four state legislators and a former legislator. Four of the five were Democrats.
"The House has made several changes to our processes that make the process more open and transparent in recent years," Harwell said. "Although I'm pleased we're 15th in the nation, there are always areas in which we can improve. We will continue to work hard in the Tennessee General Assembly to make state government open, accessible, and transparent for taxpayers."
Spokesmen for Gov. Bill Haslam and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, both Republicans, did not respond to requests for comment.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com, 615-255-0550 or follow on twitter at AndySher1.