Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer does not have to tell anyone when he leaves the state. There's no law saying he must. So, like most governors, Schweitzer does not announce his whereabouts when he's outside Montana.

But he should. It would be the right - if not legally required - thing to do.

A recent Associated Press survey documented that very few governors disclose such travel details, and reported that the AP previously requested that Schweitzer start including his out-of-state travel plans in his regularly released schedule. However, Schweitzer declined, apparently fearing the possibility of political criticism.

Most people understand that even public officials deserve to take the occasional private vacation, and in fact, after putting in long hours serving the public's interest, they probably need them.

However, when a public servant of such importance as a governor takes time off, the least he could do is inform his employers - that would be the taxpayers of his state - that he's doing so. We don't need to know all the details. We don't even need to know where he's going. If he's out of state on vacation, that's all he needs to say.

Schweitzer already provides reporters with a schedule of events and meetings he plans on attending, and that's a commendable start. But why omit any mention of trips out of state?

The chief executive is, after all, one of the highest-ranking representatives of Montana. When he's off duty, who else is running the state? The governorship of Montana is a position Schweitzer was elected to hold not only when he's seated in his office in Helena, but also when he's relaxing with friends or campaigning for other politicians.

For that reason, it was embarrassing to all Montanans when our governor was caught on tape joking about election fraud at a meeting of trial lawyers in Philadelphia in July 2008. That was, of course, not nearly as embarrassing as, say, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's out-of-state travels to meet with his Argentinian mistress - but Sanford's sudden disappearance undoubtedly had people throughout the U.S. wondering where their own governor was.

It shouldn't be a mystery.

The governors of California and Massachusetts let reporters know when they're going to be traveling outside the state. The governor of Montana should join them in setting a high standard for transparency and public accountability.