REGION — The Center for Public Integrity has published a survey that awards a grade to all 50 states for their level of integrity. The center “used extensive research to grade the states based on the laws and systems they have in place to deter corruption.”

Government scandals pulled the grade down in New York. From the report: “Beset by corruption, backroom deals and voter scorn, New York received a score of 61, a D-, placing it in a tie for 30th place nationwide in the State Integrity Investigation, a data-driven assessment of state government accountability and transparency conducted by the Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity. That’s little change from 2012, when the project was first carried out and the state earned a D.”

From the report regarding Pennsylvania: “The lack of legislative or executive accountability and the absence of effective ethics entities, as well as weak laws and lackluster oversight of lobbying, political finance, and elections, have combined to give Pennsylvania an F in the 2015 State Integrity Investigation, conducted by the Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity. Pennsylvania’s numerical score of 58 placed it tied for 44th among the 50 states.”