In a recent DataLab study of the 50 states and the legacies of corruption, Oklahoma came in worse than average. But when you look at midwestern states it gets even more discouraging. Oklahoma was the 20th worst for corruption convictions, but when you compute that by overall population, Oklahoma is the 12th worst. Missouri is 23rd worst, Arkansas is 30th, Texas is 35th, Kansas is 36th, and Nebraska is the 43rd lowest in corruption convictions per capita. Another indicator is the strength of laws to ward off corruption in govt. Again, Oklahoma ranked the 13th worst in the nation and far worse that other midwestern plains states. Arkansas was 24th, worst, followed by Texas at 25th. Missouri was the 36th least watered down in laws to ward off corruption. Better yet, Kansas and Nebraska were among the best. They were among the 10 states with the best laws to fight corruption in govt. One plains state which ranked among the best in all 4 criteria is Nebraska. The 'Cornhusker' state avoids much of the worst partisanship by
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Nebraska's Unicameral (one chamber) legislature also does a better job of overseeing their state agencies to prevent fraudulent activities like the current corruption we see in Oklahoma's Tourism & Health Departments.
So, why does a state like Nebraska, which pays only one third the number of legislators just one third the legislative pay, have just one third the amount of corruption?
Perhaps our lawmakers are serving themselves and sabotaging any efforts to reform?
Why has Oklahoma's legislature been in violation of our constitutional mandate to call for a statewide vote for a constitutional convention? Perhaps it's because they don't trust the people and don't want to risk a possibility that we, the people, will break up their party?Oklahoma lawmakers claim that underpaying politicians will lead to worse corruption, because only those with dishonorable incentives will run for office.
Nebraska's Unicameral (one chamber) legislature also does a better job of overseeing their state agencies to prevent fraudulent activities like the current corruption we see in Oklahoma's Tourism & Health Departments.