Kyle Biedermann

Kenneth Kyle Biedermann, known as Kyle Biedermann (born April 30, 1959), is an American politician who served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 73 from 2017 to 2023. Biedermann owns and operates a hardware store within the district.

Kyle Biedermann
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the Texas's 73rd House of Representatives district73rd district
In office
January 10, 2017 – January 10, 2023
Preceded byDoug Miller
Succeeded byCarrie Isaac
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Kyle Biedermann

(1959-04-30) April 30, 1959
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Fredericksburg, Texas USA
OccupationBusinessman, Owner, Biedermann Ace Hardware, Fredericksburg, Texas

Biedermann defeated incumbent Doug Miller, chairman of the Special Purpose District Committee, on May 24, 2016, in the Republican primary runoff election.[1] Biedermann polled 10,481 votes (55.4 percent) to Miller's 8,438 (44.6 percent).[1] Biedermann faced no Democratic opponent in the November 2016 general election.

Biedermann won his second House term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. With 69,006 votes (74.8 percent), he defeated Democrat Stephanie Phillips, who polled 23,237 votes (25.2 percent).[2]

Legislative voting record & positions

Immigration

Biedermann supported SB 1252, otherwise known as the Interstate Compact for Border Security, which would have given the State of Texas the power to enforce the State's own border protection laws.[3] In addition, he voted in favor of the Schaefer Amendment of SB 4 which banned Sanctuary Cities and fully funded an increase in border security funding.[4] Biedermann also voted to end benefits for illegal immigrants as well as penalizing employers who do not use E-Verify and allow law enforcement to check the legal status of detained individuals.

Abortion

Biedermann describes himself as pro-life, voting on numerous pieces of legislation to restrict or prohibit the practice of abortion in the state of Texas. He voted in favor of Amendment 76 (Krause Amend.) of SB1 which increased funding for the Alternatives to Abortion Program by $20,000,000.[5] He also voted on the 2nd and 22nd Amendment of SB 8 which would have banned a procedure known as "dismemberment abortions" and the abolishment of late term abortions for children with disabilities (respectively).[6][7]

Property Tax Reform

A strong supporter of property tax reform, Biedermann has voted on multiple pieces of legislation regarding the reformation of current property tax plans in the state of Texas. He voted against HB 486, a bill that would have made it easier for school districts to raise property taxes without first getting voter approval.[8] He voted against SB 1 RV #164, a motion that killed 3 amendments that would have expanded property tax reform.[9] Additionally, he voted in favor of HB 208 RV #155, a bill designed to cap growth in state spending at the rise of population plus inflation.[10]

Secession

Biedermann is in favor of the secession of Texas from the Union. In late 2020, he said he was committed to submitting a bill to the legislature to begin the process.[11] On January 26, 2021, Biedermann filed the Texas Independence Referendum Act (HB 1359), a bill to allow for a state referendum on secession.[12]

Legislative Ratings
Biedermann Legislative Rankings by Policy Groups
Year Empower Texans Young Conservatives of Texas Texas State Rifle Association Texas Right to Life
2017 96 (A+) 89 (B+) 100 (A+) 100 (A+)

U.S. Capitol attack
Main article: 2021 United States Capitol attack
January 6 United
States Capitol attack
A gallows (top) and a crowd of attackers amid a cloud of tear gas (bottom) outside the Capitol on January 6, 2021
Timeline • Planning
Background
2020 presidential election
and other causes
Related groups and persons
Participants
Notable people
Organizations
Law enforcement response
Aftermath
Biden inauguration
Investigations and charges
Corporate actions
Reactions
Impeachment

Biedermann attended the storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.[13] He refused to release emails from his official government account from the dates surrounding his trip to Washington, D.C. despite the email being in the public record per the Texas Public Information Act.[13]

Criticism

During the primary campaign, a photo surfaced of Biedermann dressed up as Gay Hitler, a recurring Saturday Night Live character portrayed by Chris Kattan, for a charity event in 2008.[14] He was criticized by the Anti-Defamation League.[15]

In January 2017, Biedermann sent a survey to Muslim leaders asking them questions about their interpretations of Islam in preparation for a "Homeland Security Summit". The surveys were distributed as part of a campaign designed to expose "radical Islamic terrorism in Texas", and preceded a forum Mr. Biedermann held at the State Capitol, scheduled to coincide with Texas Muslim Capitol Day, an educational event.[16][17][18][19] The episode attracted critical media coverage and condemnation by civil rights advocates.[16][20][21]

References
  1. Mekelburg, Madlin; Reynolds, John (May 24, 2016). "The Brief: Low Turnout in Runoffs Nonetheless Yields Notable Results". The Texas Tribune.
  2. "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  3. "SENATE JOURNAL" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us/sjrnl. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  4. "SENATE JOURNAL" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us/sjrnl. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  5. "Session transcript" (PDF). www.journals.house.state.tx.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 15, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  6. "Session transcript" (PDF). www.journals.house.state.tx.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  7. "Session transcript" (PDF). www.journals.house.state.tx.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  8. "Session transcript" (PDF). www.journals.house.state.tx.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  9. "Session transcript" (PDF). www.journals.house.state.tx.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 15, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  10. "Session transcript" (PDF). www.journals.house.state.tx.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  11. Knight, Drew (December 10, 2020). "'Texit' | Representative says he is committed to filing legislation allowing Texas to secede". WXIA-TV. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  12. "Herman: Texas secession bill filed in House". Austin American-Statesman. January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  13. Collier, Dillon (March 22, 2021). "Video shows Texas lawmaker near steps of U.S. Capitol as rioters clashed with officers". KSAT. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  14. Atwater, Carleton (April 7, 2011). "Looking Back at Saturday Night Live, 2000-2005". Vulture. Retrieved March 16, 2022. No other era has featured such bizarre, and at times stupid reoccurring characters like Nicole, the Girl With No Gaydar and Gay Hitler.
  15. Chasnoff, Brian (March 30, 2016). "GOP Texas House candidate dressed as 'Gay Hitler'". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  16. Montgomery, David; Fernandez, Manny (January 26, 2017). "Texas Muslims Voice Concerns After Inflammatory Survey and Forum". The New York Times.
  17. Ura, Alexa (January 19, 2017). "Texas lawmaker sends letter to "Islamic Leaders" surveying their beliefs". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  18. Grissom, Brandi (January 19, 2017). "State lawmaker sends Shariah law 'poll' to Texas mosques". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  19. Ura, Alex; Samuels, Alex (January 26, 2017). "At Texas Muslim Capitol Day, supporters form human shield around demonstrators". The Texas Tribune.
  20. Burke, Terri (January 25, 2017). "An Open Letter to Rep. Kyle Biedermann of Fredericksburg on Your Demand That Texas Muslims Sign a Loyalty Oath". ACLU of Texas. American Civil Liberties Union.
  21. Goodman, Amy (January 30, 2017). "Hundreds of Texas Muslim Leaders Receive Alarming Survey Investigating Their Views on Islam". Democracy Now!.
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