Updated at 10:30am ET to include statement from Berrien County GOP
The Berrien County GOP is considering censuring State Representative Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet) over her support for expanding civil rights protections, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
The new law, which expands the 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, has been hailed by some as historic – others call it infringement on religious freedom. Rep. Wendzel voted in favor of expanding the protections.
For that position, Rep. Wendzel immediately took flak from fellow Republicans. First, from the Muskegon County Republican Executive Committee who unanimously passed a resolution rebuking the eight Republican lawmakers who voted for the legislation.
Now, several sources confirm the Berrien County GOP has formed a special task force to determine whether it, too, should censure Rep. Wendzel.
Options reportedly span a symbolic written censure, all the way to not letting her speak at, or attend, the upcoming Lincoln Day dinner.
A final decision has not been made on how the party will act on the question, but what is clear is there’s an intraparty divide on the matter.
In a written statement provided to WSJM by the Berrien County GOP, a spokesperson confirmed they’re still reviewing. “In response to passage of HB 4003, the Berrien County GOP empaneled a task force committee to study the legislation, report its findings, and make recommendations. The work of the task force is not complete at this time,” the statement said.
