We'll be hearing many lofty promises of accountability from candidates over the next 17 months leading up to the 2016 elections.

Once they get elected, however, words like accessibility, full disclosure and openness often get shuffled into the attic or basement with other political promises.Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf's administration reported it's now posting details of the expenses claimed for reimbursement by his top staff and cabinet officials.The website breaks down the expenses into 12 different categories, including airfare, hotels, parking and train fare.The initial report posted last week showed a total of just over $37,700 in expenses claimed by 23 top administration officials beginning in January and running through March.Acting Banking and Securities Secretary Robin Wiessmann was the highest with $3,300 in expense claims whole acting Human Services Secretary Ted Dallas claimed no expenses.After residents learned that the Legislature approved a late-night budget that included a large pay raise for lawmakers in 2008, we started seeing a positive climate change in Harrisburg transparency. A new open records law placed the burden on the government, not the public, in seeking records.Every time a record is denied, the state agency must justify its actions.Although there have been strides toward openness and more accountability, the state has areas for improvement. After analyzing each state's laws and practices that promote accountability and openness, the State Integrity Investigation came up with a state ranking system.Veteran journalists in each state conducted interviews and research to grade their state government on its corruption risk.Each state received a report card with 14 letter grades, including campaign finance, ethics laws, lobbying regulations, and management of state pension funds.Not a single state earned an A grade, and only New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, California and Nebraska earned a B grade. Nineteen states got C's and 18 received D's. F grades went to Michigan, North Dakota, South Carolina, Maine, Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota and Georgia.Pennsylvania's overall grade was C-, which ranked it 20th out of the 50 states. In the 14 categories, it received A grades in Internal Auditing and Procurement; B- grades in Public Access to Information, State Civil Service Management and State Pension Fund Management; a C+ in Ethics Enforcement Agencies and C grades in Executive Accountability, State Insurance Commissions and Legislative Accountability.The state received a D- in Lobbying Disclosure and F grades in Political Financing, State Budget Processes and Redistricting.The reforms in the last decade have improved Pennsylvania's public records law and lobbyist disclosure requirements. Most importantly though, it makes us aware of how government is managing business and spending our tax dollars.By JIM ZBICKtneditor@tnonline.com