Richard Hanna (New York politician)

{{for|the unrelated U.S. Representative from California|Richard T. Hanna}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|image = Richard Hanna, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg

|state = New York

|office1 = Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York

|constituency1= {{ushr|NY|24|24th district}} (2011–2013)
{{ushr|NY|22|22nd district}} (2013–2017)

|term_start1 = January 3, 2011

|term_end1 = January 3, 2017

|predecessor1 = Mike Arcuri

|successor1 = Claudia Tenney

|birth_name = Richard Louis Hanna

|birth_date = {{birth date|1951|1|25}}

|birth_place = Utica, New York, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|2020|03|15|1951|1|25}}

|death_place = Oneida County, New York, U.S.

|party = Republican

|spouse = {{marriage|Kimberly Greenleaf|2001}}

|children = 2

|relatives = Edward A. Hanna (uncle)

|education = Reed College (BA)

}}

Richard Louis Hanna (January 25, 1951 – March 15, 2020) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 2011 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, his district was numbered the 24th during his first term in Congress; from 2013 to 2017, it was numbered as the {{ushr|NY|22|22nd district}}.

Early life, education and business career

Hanna was born in Utica and raised in Marcy. His grandparents owned a dairy farm in Herkimer County. He graduated from Whitesboro High School in Marcy. Then, he graduated from Reed College with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science. After college, Hanna returned to New York to start his own construction business called Hanna Construction.{{cite web|url=https://online.wsj.com/article/AP130006b0837c4a4a8165804738532220.html|title= Clinton stumps for NY House Dems in tight races|publisher=Associated Press|date= November 1, 2010|access-date=17 May 2017}} Hanna was of Lebanese descent.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2013/11/15/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1678-4|title= Honoring Lebanon on its 70th Independence Day Hon. Richard L. Hanna of New York in the House of Representatives|date= 13 November 2013|access-date=17 May 2017|publisher= The United States Congress}}

U.S. House of Representatives

= Elections =

== 2008 ==

{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 24}}

In 2008, Hanna ran against incumbent Democrat Mike Arcuri and narrowly lost.

== 2010 ==

{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 24*}}

In 2010, he ran in a rematch and won.

== 2012 ==

{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 22}}

Due to redistricting, Hanna ran in the new 22nd district in 2012.

In his 2012 campaign for re-election against Democrat Dan Lamb, television stations WUTR in Utica and WSYR in Syracuse announced they would jointly air a debate between Hanna and Lamb. Hanna declined to participate, citing another scheduled televised debate and five that would not be televised. The stations said that if Hanna did not appear, they would air a 30-minute question-and-answer session with Lamb. According to Steve Merren, the vice president and general manager of WUTR's parent company, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Hanna then contacted Merren. In an email to staff, Merren stated, "He indicated to me that we would not be considered for his ad dollars and our level of cooperation in the future could be affected." Merren then directed that WUTR not go ahead with the broadcast. Both Merren and a Hanna spokeswoman denied that threats had been made. After the inadvertent disclosure of the internal email, Merren told the press that Hanna "did not say he would pull his ad dollars." The Hanna campaign said that his conversation with Merren had been "nothing more than a courtesy call". The Lamb campaign said that Hanna was "using his money to influence the journalistic decisions of a local news agency."{{cite web | title = GOP Congressman Threatens Local News Station for Covering Debate| publisher = Common Dreams| date = October 6, 2012 | url = http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/13825-gop-congressman-threatens-local-news-station-for-covering-debate| access-date = October 7, 2012}}{{cite news| title = Email: Hanna discussed pulling ads after debate flap with WUTR| newspaper = Observer-Dispatch| date = October 6, 2012| url = http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1931761214/Email-Hanna-discussed-pulling-ads-after-debate-flap-with-WUTR| access-date = October 7, 2012| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130205081532/http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1931761214/Email-Hanna-discussed-pulling-ads-after-debate-flap-with-WUTR| archive-date = February 5, 2013| df = mdy-all}}

== 2014 ==

{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 22}}

In 2014, Hanna received a primary challenge from a considerably more conservative Republican, State Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney. Described as a "Tea Party favorite," Tenney reportedly challenged Hanna because "she believed he had abandoned his conservative principles during two terms in Congress. Tenney called Hanna a RINO (Republican in Name Only) who had become the third-most liberal Republican in the House of Representatives, based on his voting record." Hanna defeated Tenney by a margin of 53% to 47%; when asked about the message sent by his win, he said, "I hope it's a message that you could be thoughtful and inclusive and still be elected."{{cite web | title = NY-22 election results: U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna defeats Claudia Tenney in GOP primary| publisher = Syracuse.com| date = June 24, 2014 | url = http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/ny-22_election_results_us_rep_richard_hanna_holds_off_claudia_tenney_in_gop_prim.html | access-date = December 28, 2017}} Hanna went on to win re-election in November, when he had no Democratic challenger.

=Tenure=

Hanna was a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee and the centrist Republican Main Street Partnership. He was a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus.{{cite web|url=http://auburnpub.com/news/opinion/blogs/eye_on_albany/article_a3db9800-be1a-11e0-bbc8-001cc4c03286.html |title=Hanna joins House LGBT Equality Caucus|author=Robert Harding|date=August 3, 2011|work=Auburn Citizen|access-date=August 3, 2011}} Hanna stated his opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He was one of only six House Republicans in the 112th Congress who did not sign Grover Norquist's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," with a spokesman explaining that "Rep. Hanna is focusing on the pledges he has made to his wife, the Constitution of the United States and the people of upstate New York."{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/120111-federalpledgesigners.pdf |title=The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers, 112th Congressional List|publisher=Americans for Tax Reform|access-date=December 9, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/92837-some-gop-nos-on-pledge-could-complicate-debt-talks/ |title=Some GOP no's on 'pledge' could complicate debt talks|author=Alexander Bolton|date=June 2, 2011|work=The Hill|access-date=December 9, 2011}}

According to the Washington Post's congressional votes database, Hanna voted with the House Republicans 85% of the time in his first year in office; only 11 Republicans (out of 244) had a lower percentage at the time.{{cite web|url=http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/eye-on-ny-a-close-look-at-hanna-s-first/article_086c2bd4-3415-11e1-8b4d-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1j1b6W3xX|title=Eye on NY: A close look at Hanna's first year|first=Robert|last=Harding|date=January 2012 |access-date=November 23, 2017}} Hanna was ranked as the 2nd most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 114th United States Congress (after Peter T. King) in The Lugar Center and McCourt School of Public Policy's Bipartisan Index.{{citation|url=http://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/The%20Lugar%20Center%20-%20McCourt%20School%20Bipartisan%20Index%20114th%20Congress%20House%20Scores.pdf|title=The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index|publisher=The Lugar Center|date=March 7, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2017}}

In February 2011, Hanna published an op-ed opposing the extension of the USA PATRIOT Act. Editors from the Syracuse Post-Standard, which published the piece, later reprimanded Hanna{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/opinion/2011/03/hannas_near-plagiarism.html|title=Hanna's near-plagiarism|first=Advance Media NY Editorial|last=Board|date=March 11, 2011|website=syracuse}} for plagiarizing content from a report by Julian Sanchez of the Cato Institute in his editorial. Sanchez indicated that Hanna had his permission to use the content, although he was not referenced in the piece.

The first bill Hanna co-sponsored was H.R. 4 which repealed the 1099 tax reporting provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. President Obama signed the bill into law in April 2011.{{cite web|url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=112_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ009.112|title=www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-112publ9/html/PLAW-112publ9.htm|access-date=November 23, 2017}} In early 2011 Congressman Hanna voted to repeal health care reform.{{cite web|url=http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/rep_bios.php?rep_id=74478446&category=views&id=20101002092318|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009002624/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/rep_bios.php?rep_id=74478446&category=views&id=20101002092318|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 9, 2011|title=This website is currently unavailable.|website=www.thepoliticalguide.com|access-date=November 23, 2017}} Hanna voted to support the Energy Tax Prevention Act which would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gasses and implementing a "cap-and-trade" system through regulation.{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll249.xml |title=Final vote results for roll call 249|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=5 December 2023}} Hanna voted against cuts to NPR and Planned Parenthood.{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/deep_federal_spending_cuts_bue.html|title=Deep federal spending cuts? Buerkle is ready, Hanna is not, Owens unimpressed|date=February 20, 2011|access-date=November 23, 2017}} Hanna voted in favor of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/floor.aspx?day=20111118&today=20111119|title=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives|author=((Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives))|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=November 23, 2017}}

At a rally in support of the Equal Rights Amendment in March 2012, Hanna urged women to donate to Democratic candidates, saying: "I think these are very precarious times for women, it seems. So many of your rights are under assault... Contribute your money to people who speak out on your behalf, because the other side -- my side -- has a lot of it."{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/richard-hanna-gop-congress_n_1373381.html|work=The Huffington Post|title=Richard Hanna, GOP Congressman, Tells Women To Give Their Money To Democrats|date=March 22, 2012}}

In the 2012 presidential election, he endorsed former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/07/huntsman-to-gain-first-congressional-backer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108074815/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/07/huntsman-to-gain-first-congressional-backer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2012|work=CNN|title=Huntsman to gain first congressional backer|date=January 7, 2012}}

Hanna supported reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.{{cite news|author=Jennifer Bendery|author-link=Jennifer Bendery|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/11/violence-against-women-act-john-boehner-eric-cantor_n_2278549.html|title=Violence Against Women Act: John Boehner, Eric Cantor Pressured By Republicans To Act|date=December 11, 2012|work=Huffington Post}}

In 2013, he supported same-sex marriage, becoming the second Republican member of the House to do so (the first being Ileana Ros-Lehtinen).{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/02/26/gay_marriage_legal_brief_two_republicans_in_congress_support_lgbt_rights.html|title=Gay marriage legal brief: Two Republicans in Congress support LGBT rights|publisher=Slate.com|date=26 February 2013|access-date=17 May 2017}}

In June 2013, Hanna was the only Republican congressman to vote against proposed legislation to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy except for victims of rape or incest who have reported the crime to authorities. He opposes partial birth abortions, but stated that he was unable to support this legislation because it would cast aside exception for the health of the mother, and it fails to adequately account for unique circumstances that can arise after 20 weeks because every pregnancy is specific.{{cite web|url=http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2013/06/18/hanna-sole-new-york-republican-to-oppose-house-abortion-bill/|title=Hanna sole New York Republican to oppose House abortion bill|last1=Tumulty|first1=Brian|date=June 18, 2013|publisher=Politics on the Hudson|access-date=July 20, 2013}}

In December 2015, Hanna—citing family responsibilities—announced that he did not plan to run for re-election in 2016. Hanna indicated that a potential primary rematch with Claudia Tenney did not influence his decision not to seek re-election.{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/gop_rep_richard_hanna_plans_to_retire_at_end_of_term.html|title=GOP Rep. Richard Hanna plans to retire at end of term (video)|last=Weiner|first=Mark|date=December 20, 2015|publisher=Syracuse.com|access-date=December 28, 2017}} He endorsed businessman Steve Wells as his successor,{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/politics/2016/06/rep_richard_hanna_endorses_steve_wells_to_succeed_him_in_congress.html|title=Rep. Richard Hanna endorses Steve Wells in GOP primary|date=June 23, 2016|website=syracuse}} but Wells lost the primary to Tenney, who won the seat in the general election.

On August 2, 2016, Hanna became the first sitting Republican member of Congress to say that he would vote for Hillary Clinton for president over Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, referring to the Republican nominee as "a national embarrassment".{{cite web|title=Rep. Richard Hanna letter: We should all be done with Donald Trump (commentary)|url=http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/08/rep_richard_hanna_we_should_all_be_done_with_donald_trump_commentary.html|author=Richard Hanna|publisher=syracuse.com|date=2 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/richard-hanna-to-vote-for-clinton-226555|title=Republican Rep. Richard Hanna will vote for Clinton|work=Politico|date=August 2, 2016}}

In December 2016, Hanna said in an interview that the Republican Party had "gone to the far extremes on social issues. They've become judgmental and sanctimonious and authoritarian on their approach to people."{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/12/retiring_rep_richard_hanna_gop_too_intolerant_extreme_on_social_issues.html|title=Retiring Rep. Richard Hanna: GOP too intolerant, extreme on social issues|last=Weiner|first=Mark|date=December 30, 2016|publisher=Syracuse.com|access-date=December 28, 2017}}

= Committee assignments =

[http://transportation.house.gov/subcommittees/subcommittee/?ID=107422 United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment]

Committee on Small Business

=Caucus memberships=

United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus{{cite web|title=Our Members|url=https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155201/https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}

Personal life and death

Hanna lived in Barneveld, New York. He married Kimberly Greenleaf in 2001; they had two children.{{cite web|url=http://www.uticaod.com/blogs/x1775209521/Introducing-Congressman-elect-Richard-Hanna|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205080337/http://www.uticaod.com/blogs/x1775209521/Introducing-Congressman-elect-Richard-Hanna|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2013|title=Personal life biodata|access-date=November 23, 2017}}{{cite news|last=Bernstein|first=Adam|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/richard-hanna-independent-minded-republican-congressman-dies-at-69/2020/03/17/65f44dc0-684d-11ea-abef-020f086a3fab_story.html|title=Richard Hanna, independent-minded Republican congressman, dies at 69|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 17, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420075234/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/richard-hanna-independent-minded-republican-congressman-dies-at-69/2020/03/17/65f44dc0-684d-11ea-abef-020f086a3fab_story.html|archivedate=April 20, 2020|url-status=live|url-access=limited|accessdate=February 9, 2024}} He died from cancer at a hospital in Oneida County, New York on March 15, 2020, aged 69.{{Cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2020/03/former-rep-richard-hanna-gop-moderate-from-upstate-ny-dies-at-69.html|title=Former U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, GOP moderate, dies at 69|date=March 16, 2020|last = Weiner|first = Mark|newspaper = The Post-Standard|accessdate = August 3, 2022}}

Hanna was the nephew of Utica mayor Edward A. Hanna.{{Cite web |last=Ackerman |first=Bryon |title=Richard Hanna and the Debt Limit Part 4 |url=https://www.uticaod.com/story/news/columns/2011/06/03/richard-hanna-debt-limit-part/45082944007/ |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website=Utica Observer Dispatch |language=en-US |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113223308/https://www.uticaod.com/story/news/columns/2011/06/03/richard-hanna-debt-limit-part/45082944007/ |url-status=live }}

References

External links

{{C-SPAN|9262929}}
{{CongLinks | congbio=H001051 | votesmart=110344 | fec=H8NY24066 | congress=richard-hanna/2044 }}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 24th congressional district|years=2011–2013}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 22nd congressional district|years=2013–2017}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 112th-114th United States Congress |state=New York}}

Category:1951 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:American construction businesspeople

Category:American politicians of Lebanese descent

Category:Businesspeople from New York (state)

Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)

Category:Politicians from Utica, New York

Category:Reed College alumni

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)

Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives