State auditor Robert Casey, Jr. said the Department of Public Welfare should not have mailed more than 56,000 brochures on behalf of Planned Parenthood in January because it did not contribute to "the accomplishment of a proper governmental purpose." His 20-page report also criticized the department for sending the mailing without a contract, not sending Planned Parenthood a bill until April, not charging enough when they did send one, and deceiving lawmakers who had questions about the state's role in the mailing.

Welfare officials agreed with most of the report except for the findings that they misled lawmakers and said future mailings would be limited to groups directly participating in department programs.

"When a public agency misleads legislators, and therefore taxpayers, that erodes confidence in state government," Casey said. "They ought to forget about mailing things like this and spend more time and resources on child care."