Illinois isn't most corrupt state in country, study shows

We all know that corruption is common in Illinois government and costs each taxpayer more than $1,300 a year, but there is some good news — it could be worse, according to a new study.

A new study from Harvard University’s Center for Ethics shows that Kentucky and New Jersey have a worse ranking than Illinois in the “legal corruption” category for the executive branch.

When it comes to “illegal corruption,” the study finds it’s also “very common” in Illinois’ legislative branch:

What’s the difference between the two different forms of corruption used in the report?

“We define illegal corruption as the private gains in the form of cash or gifts by a government official, in exchange for providing specific benefits to private individuals or groups. It is the form of corruption that attracts a great deal of public attention.

“We define legal corruption as the political gains in the form of campaign contributions or endorsements by a government official, in exchange for providing specific benefits to private individuals or groups, be it by explicit or implicit understanding.“

When combining rankings for legal and illegal corruption in the judicial, legislative and executive branches, Illinois still falls into the “most corrupt” category, but has plenty of company:

h/t: Insider Louisville