CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new survey of financial disclosure requirements for state legislators gives West Virginia a grade of  "F" and a 44th place ranking -- prompting discussions Thursday of the need to possibly toughen the state's ethics law.

"If it looks like we're slipping, and other states are requiring additional information, that's something we may need to look at," said Matt Turner, spokesman for Gov. Joe Manchin.

West Virginia was one of 20 states to receive failing grades in The Center for Public Integrity's "States of Disclosure" -- a 50-state ranking of financial disclosure standards for state legislators.

West Virginia received 45 of a possible 100 points for its disclosure form that legislators and other public officials are required to file annually with the state Ethics Commission.

The state lost points in the survey because it does not require:

-- Disclosure of income and investments by specific amounts.

-- Disclosure of spouse's employment and investments.

-- Disclosure of real estate holdings.

-- That disclosure filings be accessible to the public via the Internet.

Louisiana topped the list, with an "A" grade and 94.5 score.

In the center's last survey, in 2006, Louisiana held the 44th spot now occupied by West Virginia.

"If it looks like we're slipping, and other states are requiring additional information, that's something we may need to look at," said Matt Turner, spokesman for Gov. Joe Manchin.

West Virginia was one of 20 states to receive failing grades in The Center for Public Integrity's "States of Disclosure" -- a 50-state ranking of financial disclosure standards for state legislators.

West Virginia received 45 of a possible 100 points for its disclosure form that legislators and other public officials are required to file annually with the state Ethics Commission.

The state lost points in the survey because it does not require:

-- Disclosure of income and investments by specific amounts.

-- Disclosure of spouse's employment and investments.

-- Disclosure of real estate holdings.

-- That disclosure filings be accessible to the public via the Internet.

Louisiana topped the list, with an "A" grade and 94.5 score.

In the center's last survey, in 2006, Louisiana held the 44th spot now occupied by West Virginia.

However, in one of his first acts after taking office in 2008, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal pushed through a sweeping ethics reform package that features the nation's most detailed disclosure requirements of legislators' outside financial interests.

State Ethics Commission director Theresa Kirk said Thursday the commission strives to strike a balance with its disclosure requirements.

"It's a challenge of striking a balance between the citizens' right to access to personal information, and the public officials' right to privacy," she said.

She said that's why the commission has been reluctant to post the disclosure forms on the Internet, over concerns the information could be misused.

"I don't think there's an easy answer to that," she said.

However, she said the survey could be a springboard for discussions on whether to expand the state's disclosure requirements.

"One area I think would be good to explore is whether we should require more information on spouses," Kirk said.

Turner said Manchin believes in revising state ethics law as needed, as he did with legislation he sponsored in 2005. Among other changes, that law mandated first-dollar disclosure of lobbyists' spending on public officials, and increased fines and penalties for violations of the Ethics Act.

"This governor makes a priority of running very much a transparent government," Turner said.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.