Curious how much our state’s science museum spends on exhibits, salaries or paperclips, for that matter? Tough luck – the information isn’t public. But why?

More on that in a moment on the Face The State Radio Minute.

Uncovering government waste, fraud and corruption is my job as managing editor of FaceTheState.com, and it’s a job I really love. Part of my gig is requesting budgets and other financial documents from public institutions supported by the government.

When we tried to look at the books at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, however, attorneys for the museum told us in no uncertain terms, they didn’t have to produce the information, citing the institution’s non-profit status.

But tens of millions of dollars have flowed to the museum over the years, including millions every year from taxpayers in metropolitan Denver.

Hiding behind a technicality in the law to avoid disclosure is bad business. What do they have to hide from all of us who pay taxes to help keep the lights on?

For FaceTheState.com, I’m Brad Jones.