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Pence addresses canceled PR contract

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Governor Mike Pence answered questions for the first time Wednesday regarding the cancellation of a $750,000 public relations contract.

The contract was made to counter the RFRA reaction that saw states and companies ban travel to Indiana, along with threats to cancel conventions here.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation executed it.

“I think that the IEDC made the right decision to discontinue the contract,” said Pence. When asked if it was his decision Pence said, “I supported the decision very strongly.”

Democrats want to know if the cancellation was made because Porter Novelli recommended that the governor push for a Human Rights Amendment.

“That topic was never raised in any meeting that I was involved in with that firm,” said Pence.

He went on to say, “We did not retain them for the purpose of making policy or legislative recommendations.”

The governor says Indiana is headed toward record employment and that eliminates the need for the contract.

“What we’re doing today to market the Hoosier state is working,” he said.

Critics still want to know what Porter Novelli did for the $365,000 it will still receive.

“Our attorneys are looking through it,” said Pence, “and I’m very confident they’ll be releasing information that will better inform the public about the wisdom of this decision.”

The state has so far denied public records requests regarding the work of Porter Novelli.

The governor indicated that most of that work will still remain confidential.