MPR: Hidden Agendas

By MPR's American RadioWorks and
The Center for Public Integrity
February 1999

When you elect a local lawmaker and send her to the state capitol, she works for you and your neighbors, right? Check again. A report by a Washington research group says that most states, including Minnesota, have inadequate laws to prevent financial conflicts among local lawmakers. The Center for Public Integrity (CPI), a nonpartisan government watchdog , conducted what may be the first comprehensive study of ethics and disclosure laws in the 50 states. It gave a "failing" grade to half the states, and a "barely passing" grade to 11 others. Only 14 states merited approval from CPI.

Reports

Survey Shows Most States Fail at Disclosure
By Stephen Smith

The Story of Roy Ray: Conflict or Not?
By Stephen Smith

How State Legislators Keep Conflicts of Interest Under Wraps
By The Center for Public Integrity

The Story of Dallas Sams
By Laura McCallum

Find Your "State of Disclosure"

Detailed Reports:
Iowa
Minnesota
North Dakota
South Dakota
Wisconsin

Click state for summary report from CPI.

Credits

American RadioWorks
Chief Correspondent - Producer: Stephen Smith,
Reporter: Laura McCallum
Assistant Producer: Stephanie Curtis
Intern: Mae Anderson
Online News Editor: Bob Collins
Website: Michael Wells

Center for Public Integrity
Executive Director: Charles Lewis
Director of State Projects: Diane Renzulli
Leah Rush - Research Associate
Bill Hogan - Dir.of Investigative Projects
Semira Asfaha - Research Assistant
Owen Thompson - Research Assistant
Brenda Mayrack - Research Assistant
Sarah Bierenbaum - Research Assistant

Produced in cooperation with
the Center for Public Integrity

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