Fed up with politics as usual, a group known as the BadAss Grandmas rallied North Dakotans six years ago to establish a state Ethics Commission. Their mission? To curb unethical behavior among public officials. Yet, this watchdog has been less potent than hoped, hamstrung by the very lawmakers it’s supposed to oversee. With uninvestigated tips piling up and fears of retaliation looming, the commission’s struggle for effectiveness highlights the challenges of enforcing transparency in a politically intertwined state.
Will the upcoming legislative changes offer a glimmer of hope? This session will tell rest of the story.
The story introduced here was produced from a partnership between the ProPublica and the North Dakota Monitor. It’s worth your time; follow the link below.
