IDP Sends Formal Request for Mike Pence to Release All Documents with Porter Novelli, Payback Hoosier Taxpayers

INDIANAPOLIS – Following Mike Pence’s clear attempt to hide bad news from Hoosier families last week, the Indiana Democratic Party today sent a formal records request to Governor Pence and his administration, making a call to release all documents included in the $2 million taxpayer funded contract with Porter Novelli. By termination of the contract, created last spring to fix the RFRA mess and “repair” the reputation of Indiana, this loss costs Hoosier taxpayers $365,000 and leaves many others scratching their heads.

“Mike Pence wasn’t being transparent with Hoosiers when he terminated the taxpayer-funded contract with Porter Novelli the day before a long holiday weekend. This move, as even the media described it, leaves Hoosiers asking more questions than getting answers,” said John Zody, Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party. “Today in a letter delivered to his office, I’m formally calling on Mike Pence to release all documents, including contracts, message memos, and emails related to his contract with Porter Novelli to ‘repair’ the $250 million economic panic he caused the state. Hoosier taxpayers deserve a refund by Mike Pence as well as the right to know why their hard-earned tax dollars are being mismanaged by our state’s leaders. With the middle class struggling to make ends meet each day, middle class families should have faith that today’s problems are being solved with commonsense ideas rather than politically-fueled ideology.”

From the Indianapolis Star to the Associated Press, the media were either denied access or given general talking points over specific records between Mike Pence’s administration and Porter Novelli. And now more red flags are rightfully being raised. Did the administration disapprove of the firm’s advice? Did the firm come up with the idea to shell out over $244,000 in taxpayer money for a Wall Street Journal ad? Given Porter Novelli’s never-ending support for the LGBT community, did Mike Pence’s ideology once again get in the way of the overall well-being of Hoosiers? Simply put, Hoosier families need answers, and the Pence Administration isn’t giving them. We can do better.