Testing the Frontiers of Integrity

The late Army General, Omar Bradley in his address to Boston Chamber of Commerce said, “The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”

These powerful words stated in 1948 still reverberate true. In developing countries, ethics and freedom of information projects use advocacy banners; flashing words such as “Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism (CCN)” in educating the public against the principles of corrupted democracy and in making government more accountable.  These advocacy banners may very well be applicable in Georgia’s context too, referencing to the results of the recent State Integrity Investigation. However, governance within the purview of the governed, require educating not only the public but also the legislators. As disappointing as the results are, the State Integrity Investigation is a comprehensive data based analysis of transparency and accountability of fifty State governments. The results for Georgia are pathetic.

This progressive joint study undertaken by the Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International and Global Integrity conducted a state-by-state survey of ethic laws, open records and discloser laws. This unique check and balance, State Integrity Investigation examined conflict of interest laws, enforcement of ethic rules and government procurement laws using 14 broad parameters based on 300 government integrity indicators. The highest ranking is the state of New Jersey with a “B” plus score corresponding to a numerical percent of 87.  Sadly, Georgia is at the bottom of the list. The results from the integrity investigation, at least, should be a lesson learned for the State in reassessing and evaluating the strength of laws on corruption, collusion and nepotism. Below, the State Integrity Report Card for Georgia shows the summary indicators and corresponding alphabetical score attached to each measurement.

Public Access to Information – F

    State Civil Service Management – F

Political Financing – F

    State Pension Fund Management – F

Legislative Accountability – F

    State Insurance Commissions – F

Lobbying Disclosure – F

    Ethics Enforcement Agencies – F

Redistricting – F

    Executive Accountability – D minus

Procurement – D

    Internal Auditing – B

Judicial Accountability – C minus

    State Budget Processes – D

Source: stateintegrity.org

Malfeasance is the culprit of the game. Distressingly, the Peach State is officially the most corrupt State in America. The State of Georgia got grade “F” at a 49 percent, which even failed to enthrall the elected officials in strengthening the sunshine and ethics laws. At last week’s State legislative sessions, the sunshine drama unfolded at the legislature with more work to be continued. Unfortunately, the ethics bills (Senate bill S-391, House bills H-798 and H-1105) were not very high on the agenda of the Chambers. Even though the proposal to transform the ethics bill did not move forward as anticipated, Georgia’s Open Records Act, sunshine law H-397 passed with the prospects for increased civic participation.  This implies that there is some scope for public engagement in enforcing and monitoring performance of government agencies, but it also comes with limitations. There are existing exemptions for open record scrutiny for large projects supported with State funding incentives.  The letter grade “F” is a reminder that there is substantial work yet remaining to fulfill citizens’ right and demand for a complete discloser of government’s scope of activities, at all levels. More importantly, behind the failing scores are three important legislative frameworks for analysis of transparency and accountability.

First, having good laws require enforcing them to ensure compliance. Second, having laws that are vague, ambiguous and convoluted require reform, and transforming them to minimize conflict. Third, not having adequate laws require creating good laws to reduce gaps and backsliding. Behind these frameworks across the board, is of course, state ethics, civic ideals, freedom of information, and open records. However, above all requires political will and commitment.

It is often claimed in certain developing countries that it is easy buying elected officials, legislators and bureaucrats with a mere bottle of Black Label whiskey or with a carton of Marlboro cigarettes. These countries do not have tougher lobbying restrictions and they do not entertain caps on gifts. However, this is Georgia. Surely, the Integrity Report Card must be an incentive to Georgia’s coalition of elected officials and public member groups in continuing their work in moving forward with ethics reform and in embracing the ideals of good governance. Ethics bills and the sunshine laws are clearly at the intersection of reforming public’s access to information. With that said, by next legislative session, the Integrity Report Card for Georgia should have made substantial progress with an anticipated letter grade improvement from “F” to at least a “D” if not a “C”.