Washington Ranks First in Anti-Corruption Ranking Among all US States

Washington has been ranked first, scoring 78 points out of 100, in the 2018 States With Anti-Corruption Measures for Public officials (S.W.A.M.P.) Index report.

The report rated 50 States and the D.C. “based on the laws and regulations governing ethics and transparency in the executive and legislative branches.”

The report was released by non-profit organisation, Coalition for Integrity, formerly called Transparency International-USA, which works to combat corruption and promote integrity in the public and private sectors.

The S.W.A.M.P. Index report noted that the ethics boards of Washington State, which oversees the executive and legislative branches, can hold investigations and hearings on ethical violations.

“Washington State which scored 78% has an Executive Ethics Board and a Legislative Ethics Board, both of which have authority to independently investigate, hold public hearings, issue reprimands and impose fines,” the report notes, adding that stringent gift rules in the state mean that elected and appointed executive branch officials and legislators can’t accept “more than $50 worth of gifts, in aggregate, in a calendar year or in a single gift from multiple sources.”

Shruti Shah, the President and CEO of Coalition for Integrity said that the 2018 S.W.A.M.P. Index also brings to the fore the shortcomings and weaknesses in the ethics and transparency laws at the state level. “We need to demand accountability and a commitment from our public officials to improve the legal framework going forward,” said Shah.

Kate Reynolds, the executive director of the Washington State’s Executive Ethics Board said they were happy to be ranked first in the country. “I think we have a nice, robust set of laws, so I’m glad to see that was recognized. I think it’s always nice to have someone on the outside take a look at your rules and give some feedback on it,” said Reynolds.