Tim Hennessey
{{Short description|American politician (born 1947)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = 19082 gov coatesvilleTrain dz 902 (51619268481) (cropped).jpg
| name = Tim Hennessey
| caption =
| state_house = Pennsylvania
| district = 26th
| term_start = January 5, 1993{{cite web |title = SESSION OF 1993 - 177TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1|work = Legislative Journal| publisher = Pennsylvania House of Representatives |date = 1993-01-05|url = http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/1993/0/19930105.pdf}}
| term_end = November 30, 2022
| predecessor = Eugene G. Saloom
| successor = Paul Friel
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|11|4}}
| birth_place = Pottstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| alma_mater = Saint Joseph's University (BS)
Villanova University (JD)
| occupation =
| spouse = Carol Hennessey
| children = 3
| residence = North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| website = [http://www.rephennessey.com Pennsylvania State Representative Tim Hennessey]
}}
Timothy F. Hennessey (born November 4, 1947) is an American attorney and politician who was a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 26th District from 1993 to 2022.
Early life and education
Hennessey was born on November 4, 1947, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from St. Pius X High School in 1965. In 1969, Hennessey earned a bachelor of science degree from St. Joseph’s University. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1972.{{cite web |title=Timothy F. Hennessey |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=41 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives |access-date=7 July 2023}}
Law career
Hennessey was a trial attorney for the Public Defenders’ Office in Chester County, Pennsylvania from 1973 to 1992.{{cite web |title=About Me |url=http://www.rephennessey.com/bio.aspx |website=PA State Rep. Tim Hennessey |access-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312071138/http://www.rephennessey.com/bio.aspx |archive-date=March 12, 2019 |url-status=usurped}} He was also the solicitor of North Coventry Township for 15 years.{{cite news |last1=Brandt |first1=Evan |title=Friel looks to end Hennessey’s 26th Dist. incumbency at 13 terms |url=https://www.dailylocal.com/2020/10/24/friel-looks-to-end-hennesseys-26th-dist-incumbency-at-13-terms/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |work=Daily Local News |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=August 21, 2021}}
Political career
In 1992, Hennessey was elected as a Republican to represent the 26th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was reelected 14 times. Following redistricting in advance of the 2022 elections, Hennessey's now-redrawn district had a slight Democratic lean.{{cite news |last1=Siwy |first1=Bruce |last2=Ullery |first2=Chris |title=Here are the 4 House seats that Pa. Democrats believe they can flip in November |url=https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/09/08/pa-democrats-target-seats-in-2022-general-election/65358416007/ |access-date=7 July 2023 |work=Erie Times-News |date=September 8, 2022}} He would later lose to Democrat Paul Friel in that year's general election.{{cite news |last1=Brandt |first1=Evan |title=Democrat Friel ousts 15-term incumbent state Rep. Hennessey |url=https://www.pottsmerc.com/2022/11/09/democrat-friel-ousts-15-term-incumbent-state-rep-hennessey/ |access-date=7 July 2023 |work=The Mercury |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=November 9, 2022}}
In 2019, Hennessey was made chairman of the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee.{{cite news |title=Hennessey named chairman of transportation committee |url=https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/hennessey-named-chairman-of-transportation-committee/article_e3e58282-128e-11e9-be53-cbfb9fc59539.html |access-date=9 July 2023 |work=Daily Local News |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=January 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107021540/https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/hennessey-named-chairman-of-transportation-committee/article_e3e58282-128e-11e9-be53-cbfb9fc59539.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=November 7, 2019}} He previously chaired the Aging & Older Adult Services Committee, starting in 2007.{{cite news |last1=Brandt |first1=Evan |title=State Rep. Hennessey announces run for 16th term in 26th House Dist. |url=https://www.pottsmerc.com/2022/03/12/state-rep-hennessey-announces-run-for-16th-term-in-26th-house-dist/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |work=The Mercury |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=March 12, 2022}}
Political positions
=2020 presidential election=
Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Hennessey was one of 64 Pennsylvania Republican state legislators to sign a letter asking the state's Congressmen to reject the certification of Pennsylvania's electoral votes.{{cite news |last1=Brandt |first1=Evan |title=Rep. Hennessey among legislators seeking invalidation of Pa. electors |url=https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/rep-hennessey-among-legislators-seeking-invalidation-of-pa-electors/article_64121bfe-3e5d-11eb-9c2c-dfd4928c9e41.html |access-date=7 July 2023 |work=The Mercury |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=December 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226190736/https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/rep-hennessey-among-legislators-seeking-invalidation-of-pa-electors/article_64121bfe-3e5d-11eb-9c2c-dfd4928c9e41.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 26, 2021}} According to Hennessey, he signed the letter after objecting to changes made to state election procedures with respect to mail-in ballots. During the certification of the electoral votes, supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol Building in a bid to prevent the certification of Trump's loss to Joe Biden. Hennessey condemned the violence at the Capitol that day, but denied any connection between the calls to reject certification and the storming. He also said he did not regret signing the letter, but still affirmed Biden's victory in the election.{{cite news |last1=Brandt |first1=Evan |title=State Rep. Hennessey does not regret opposing Pa. electors |url=https://www.dailylocal.com/2021/01/14/state-rep-hennessey-does-not-regret-opposing-pa-electors/ |access-date=7 July 2023 |work=Daily Local News |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=August 21, 2021}}
=Abortion=
With regard to abortion bans, Hennessey supports exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.{{cite news |last1=Brandt |first1=Evan |title=Candidates for PA House 26th District answer questions on the issues |url=https://www.pottsmerc.com/2022/10/13/candidates-for-pa-house-26th-district-answer-questions-on-the-issues/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=The Mercury |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=October 13, 2022}}
=Immigration=
In 2021, Hennessey expressed support for allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license or similar equivalent.{{cite news |last1=Caruso |first1=Stephen |title=House panel hears ‘controversial’ bill that would grant drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/drivers-licenses-for-undocumented-immigrants-discussed-at-pa-house-hearing/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=Pennsylvania Capital-Star |date=August 11, 2021}}
=Minimum wage=
Despite supporting a minimum wage increase, in 2020, Hennessey came out against Governor Tom Wolf's minimum wage plan that according to Hennessey would "essentially double it in a few years."{{cite news |last1=Brandt |first1=Evan |title=Hennessey, Friel exchange views in 26th Dist. candidates’ forum |url=https://www.dailylocal.com/2020/08/28/hennessey-friel-exchange-views-in-26th-dist-candidates-forum/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |work=Daily Local News |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=August 19, 2021}}
=Taxation=
Hennessey supports amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to exempt seniors from paying school taxes.
Personal life
Hennessey resides in North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Carol, have three children.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{CongLinks |votesmart=9152}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-pa-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Eugene G. Saloom}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 26th district|years=1993–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Paul Friel}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hennessey, Timothy H.}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:Saint Joseph's University alumni
Category:Villanova University School of Law alumni
Category:Politicians from Chester County, Pennsylvania
Category:20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly