A recent survey revealed Midwesterners' uncertainty about the ethical use of money by state officials.

According to a survey released Thursday by the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation — a group concerned with public policy in the Great Lakes region — 71 percent of Midwesterners believe money has an overwhelming effect on state government officials.

The Joyce Foundation commissioned independent research firm Belden, Russonello & Streart to conduct the survey in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Ohio. The firm interviewed 2,040 Midwesterners between June 14 and July 6.

BRS reported nearly half of Midwesterners trust the government to do what is right "only some of the time."

In Wisconsin, 33 percent of citizens answered they were "extremely concerned" about the influence of money in state politics, while 28 percent responded that corruption in state government caused them extreme concern. Only gas prices, health care in the state and state taxes drew more alarm.

University of Wisconsin political science professor Charles Franklin said he believes recent state political wrongdoings have assisted in the skepticism reflected in the survey.

"The Capitol scandal and the large amounts of money that are being spent and raised for state campaigns make this more of an issue than it has been in Wisconsin in the past," he said, referencing recent convictions of state officials for campaigning on state time.

While the survey's results show Midwesterners are concerned about corruption and money management in state politics, the survey also determined a majority of people in turn strongly support reform efforts with goals that include honesty, fairness, responsiveness and accountability.

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Common Cause in Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin all reported optimism toward reform, and together put forward a new agenda in response to the survey's results. The agenda includes reforms in the areas of campaign finance, government ethics, lobbying, election law and administration, judicial independence, redistricting and media.

A joint statement released by the three groups Thursday said the results of the survey make it clear "the people of Wisconsin want political and government reform. It's time their elected representatives give them what they want and deserve."

Lawrence Hansen, vice president of the Joyce Foundation, agreed and said in a statement that state legislators must address these reforms to remedy the concerns of their constituents.

"The bottom line is this: the rules governing our politics have been badly bent out of shape," Hansen said. "And until they are fixed, state governments in this region will continue to be handicapped in solving the problems of greatest concern to citizens — jobs, healthcare, education, taxes, environmental protection and crime."