GOP Michigan State Rep Bolts Party Over Gay Rights; Joins Libertarians

MLive
reports that former Michigan state Rep. Lorence Wenke has
dropped the Republican Party and taken up with the Libertarian
Party. He will run for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian in the
fall.

In a statement dated April 25, the long-time Southwest
Michigan Republican cited the party’s “discrimination” against gay
citizens and what he characterized as “taxpayer abuse,” which he
said has created “an elite class” of government employees, as the
reasons behind his decision.

“I support the constitutional right of our gay family members to
enjoy the same rights as our heterosexual family members,” Wenke
wrote, citing his record as one of just two Republican legislators
to vote against the Marriage Protection Amendment to the Michigan
Constitution in 2004. …

Saying that Republicans encouraged churches to support political
efforts to discriminate against gays by condemning them for “what
they perceive as a sinful lifestyle choice,” Wenke added, “These
same people often ignore the clear teachings of Jesus and Paul
stating that remarriage after divorce is committing
adultery.”…

Wenke is upset at spending patterns too:

With regards to out-of-control government spending, Wenke cited
as examples Kalamazoo’s Early Retirement Initiative, which resulted
in lifetime pensions of $110,000 and $87,000 a year for the former
city manager and assistant city manager.

“Our spending of taxpayer dollars has been immoral and is
leading our country to bankruptcy,” he wrote.

More here.