Gov. Eric Greitens complains that he's not getting enough media coverage while at the same time dodging reporters, refusing to answer questions and failing to respond to Open Records requests for details on topics he says the media ignored. The governor is an intelligent man, but as a newcomer to political office he may not realize that he is engaging in a risky strategy of denying the public access to information.

Taxpayers have a right to know about important topics such as the state budget and spending plans, policy decisions to cut state funds for the elderly, disabled and higher education, cabinet appointments and campaign donations. Greitens answered pre-selected questions from the public in a 15-minute session on Facebook, but Capitol reporters say he has not held an open-question news conference since taking office Jan. 9. He even had a lock installed on the press office door.