Indiana OKs $3.5 million contract with deceitful forced-birther group for pregnancy support services

As noted here Monday, California has moved to force "pregnancy crisis centers" to tell a little bit of the truth about their services. Meanwhile, yet another state has joined the 11 that already fund with tax money these religiously based centers of deceit and trickery that lure women through their doors with lies of omission and commission to keep them from getting the abortions they seek.

The latest entry is Indiana:

The Indiana State Department of Health has awarded a one-year, $3.5 million contract for pregnancy support services to a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that counsels pregnant women against having abortions.

The money, which will come from federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, will allow Real Alternatives to offer its services across the state. Real Alternatives had a $1 million contract for a pilot program in the northerrn part of the state that began last October.

The Indiana contract with Real Alternatives runs for 40 pages, detailing its "pro-life mission." The group does not provide materials to inform pregnant women of all their options. Instead, the focus is on childbirth, not abortion. No funding is included for the referral or advocacy of contraceptive services or drugs. The contract does cover referrals and counseling on matters like breastfeeding and sexual abuse. Katie Heinz and Jordan Fischer report:

A spokesman for the Indiana Democratic Party released a statement criticizing the contract.

"Hoosiers are already aware that Gov. Pence will put his ideology about healthcare ahead of their well-being, but today's contract announcement raises more questions about the Pence Administration's real agenda," said Drew Anderson, communications director for the Indiana Democratic Party.

Among the other states that fund forced-birther operations—Real Alternatives or others—are Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Florida, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The latter state, where Real Alternatives is based, is providing $30 million to pregnancy crisis centers in the five years that end in 2017.

You can read more below the fold.