Debbie Riddle

Debbie Riddle
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 150th District
In office
April 2002 – January 2017
Preceded by Paul J. Hilbert (R)
Succeeded by Valoree Swanson (R)
Personal details
Born (1949-10-15) October 15, 1949
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Mike Riddle
Occupation Horse breeder
Religion Southern Baptist

Debbie Riddle (born October 15, 1949) is a Republican departing member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 150, which encompasses much of northwest Harris County in and about Houston, Texas. Riddle was defeated in the Republican primary by Valoree Swanson.

Committees

Significant legislation

In the Eightieth Texas Legislature, Representative Riddle authored House Bill 8, which was the Texas version of Jessica's Law. The bill was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry on June 15, 2007 and became effective on September 1, 2007.

In the same session, she authored House Bill 1034, which added the words "one state under God," to the Texas State Pledge.

Transgender bathroom bill

In the 84th Texas Legislature in 2015, Representative Riddle authored House Bill 1748, which would have jailed or fined transgender persons from using the public restroom (other public facilities) that did not fit their birth chromosomes. The bill read as:

"For the purpose of this section, the gender of an individual is the gender established at the individual's birth or the gender established by the individual's chromosomes. A male is an individual with at least one X chromosome and at least one Y chromosome, and a female is an individual with at least one X chromosome and no Y chromosomes. If the individual's gender established at the individual's birth is not the same as the individual's gender established by the individual's chromosomes, the individual's gender established by the individual's chromosomes controls under this section."

The bill also would have fined or jailed business owners for allowing the usage of restrooms that did not match the transgender person's birth chromosomes. The bill died quickly and in the beginning of the legislative session.

Pit of hell speech

In a March 6, 2003 interview with the El Paso Times, Riddle was quoted:

"Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell. And it's cleverly disguised as having a tender heart. It's not a tender heart. It's ripping the heart out of this country." [1]

The quote came after a Border and International Affairs Committee meeting during the Seventy-eighth Texas Legislature, in which the state faced a budget deficit of $10 billion,[1] and was linked to a discussion Riddle had during the hearing regarding proposed health care cuts. The witness claimed that health care cuts would cause serious damage to border area hospitals, which Riddle countered with the claim that illegal immigrants were responsible for the financial strains.[1]

Riddle was further quoted as saying "In a perfect world, I think it would be wonderful to open our doors to any and all, young and old, for health care. But this isn't a perfect world. We have got to decide if we are going to just open our borders for any and all that come through for health care, education, and services."[1]

The comment was met almost instantly with both opposition and support from both ends of the political spectrum.

Texas Democrats claimed the statement was bigoted and "the product of an antipathy toward non-Anglo inhabitants of the state" and the Harris County Democratic Party called for her to resign from her position on the Border Affairs Committee.[2] The Mexican American Legislative Caucus stated that "Our constitutional mandate comes not from the pit of hell. It comes from our state's forefathers."[3]

At the same time, the Unidas Hispanic Women's Club and the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Harris County praised Riddle for the quote and honored her at a dinner at the conclusion of session. Reggie Gonzalez, chairman for the Republican Hispanic Outreach Committee of Harris County said in a press release: "The liberal opposition to Representative Riddle's comments offends me as a Hispanic citizen. Their opposition only strengthens this negative stereotype of Hispanic immigrants, by implying that they need a lower standard of accountability. This implication is detrimental to the cause of Mexican-Americans everywhere."[4]

House voting procedures

Riddle has defended the Texas House's unwritten policy to cast votes for absent and indisposed members on the basis that members of the legislature often do not get breaks to tend to any other business. She was shown on Austin's KEYE-TV voting for State Representative Edmund Kuempel. She has defended the House policy: "We have a lot of votes. We have a lot of amendments, and there's [sic] times when we don't break for lunch, and we don't break for dinner, we don't have bathroom breaks."[5]

Terror babies

Riddle made the claim on Anderson Cooper 360 that Middle Eastern women were coming to the United States to give birth and were then returning to their home countries to raise their babies as terrorists who also retain American citizenship.[6]

Breastfeeding

Riddle voiced opposition to a bill protecting breastfeeding in public because she said women should be "modest".[7]

Personal life

Riddle is a horse breeder who lives in Tomball with her husband Mike,[8] an attorney.[9] In 2010, she self-published Taking Back Your Community, Your Country and Your Kids,[10] which she described as, "a practical roadmap for anyone who chooses to make a difference in their country and community."[11] Riddle's daughter, Christine Riddle Butts, is a Probate Judge in Harris County, Texas.[12]

Election results

2016 re-election defeat

In 2016, however, Riddle was defeated in the Republican primary by Valoree Swanson (born c. 1957) of Spring, who led a four-candidate field with 12,143 votes (52.5 percent). Riddle trailed with 9,176 votes (39.6 percent). Two other contenders held the remaining 7.87 percent of the ballots cast.[13] Swanson went on to defeat Democrat Michael Shawn Kelly in the November 8 general election with 47,845 votes (63.2 percent) to his 27,865 votes (36.8 percent).[14]

2014 Republican primary

In the Republican primary election held on March 4, 2014, Riddle won re-nomination to a seventh term in the state House. In a low-turnout contest, she polled 7,820 votes (74.9 percent) to her challenger Tony Noun's 2,617 (25.1 percent).[15]

Texas general election, 2014: House District 150[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Debbie Riddle (Incumbent) 24,317 72.4% -8.03
Democratic Amy Perez 9,253 27.56 -10.94
Majority 15,064 44.84% -18.97

2008

Texas general election, 2008: House District 150[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Debbie Riddle (Incumbent) 43,896 64.37 -5.90
Democratic Brad Neal 22,843 33.50 +3.78
Libertarian Ken Petty 1,445 2.12 +2.12
Majority 21,053 30.87 -9.68

2006

Texas general election, 2006: House District 150[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Debbie Riddle (Incumbent) 22,585 70.27 -29.73
Democratic Dot Nelson-Turnier 9,554 29.72 +29.72
Majority 13,031 40.55 -59.45

2004

Texas general election, 2004: House District 150[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Debbie Riddle (Incumbent) 44,425 100.00 +0.00
Majority 44,425 100.00 +0.00

2002

Texas general election, 2002: House District 150[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Debbie Riddle 26,174 100.00 +0.00
Majority 26,174 100.00 +0.00

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Legislators Question Border Health", El Paso Times; March 6, 2003
  2. ↑ Harris County Democratic Party - Message From The Chair: April 2003
  3. ↑ The Austin Chronicle: News: Naked City: Beyond City Limits
  4. ↑ Texas House of Representatives
  5. ↑ Riddle comments on House voting policy on YouTube.
  6. ↑ "Video: 'Little terrorists' born in the U.S.?". CNN.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Rep. Debbie Riddle (R)," Texas House Directory, 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Michael C. Riddle," Riddle & Akiens, LLP, 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Terror, Baby: Debbie Riddle Stocking Stuffer", Texas Observer, December 16, 2010
  11. ↑ Taking Back Your Country, Official Website
  12. ↑ Taylor, Aubrey (20 May 2015). "CONGRATULATIONS: State Rep. Debbie Riddle (HD-150), Phyllis Holly, Judge Christine Riddle Butts, and Abigail Butts". aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com. HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS REPORTS. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Republican primary returns". Texas Secretary of State. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Texas 150th District State House Results: Valoree Swanson Wins". Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  15. ↑ "Republican primary election returns". team1.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  16. ↑ "2014 General Election". Community Impact Newspaper (Texas). Retrieved 2014-11-05.
  17. ↑ "2008 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2008-11-08.
  18. ↑ "2006 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  19. ↑ "2004 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  20. ↑ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-08-08.
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