By
- Liz Glynn
Our best wishes go out to Congressman Tom Kean Jr. following his disclosure of his struggles with depression. Mental illness can be a heavy, isolating, ongoing burden, and we’re thankful Kean took the time to get the treatment he needs
We hope he now better understands the health crises too many New Jerseyans face. These crises have been made worse by the votes he’s taken, and we urge him to help undo the damage he’s done
Kean vanished from Congress for nearly four months to seek treatment with barely an explanation. We all understand the desire for privacy, but he’s an elected lawmaker accountable to nearly 800,000 people in Congressional District 7, and his votes affect the lives of millions throughout our country
What’s worse than his lack of transparency is his failure to acknowledge that his votes have made it much harder for many New Jerseyans to get the type of treatment he had access to
Votes that affected health care access
Kean, along with fellow New Jersey GOP representatives Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith, voted last year for President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” gutting Medicaid and allowing Affordable Care Act tax credits to expire
He voted for work requirements for Medicaid recipients with health conditions, including many people struggling with mental health conditions similar to his
These votes have endangered health care and services for millions. Nearly 70,000 New Jerseyans have been forced off their health insurance since then. Untold numbers more are settling for less robust coverage as premium costs surge or are contemplating a future in which they may lose their benefits altogether
Many New Jerseyans live paycheck to paycheck. They can’t afford to do what Kean did and take four months off for a medical issue. They worry about keeping health insurance for themselves and their families. They worry about getting time off and paperwork approved when they need extended leave
Kean’s votes have only added to those worries
Constituents feel the impact
One of his constituents, Theresa Luoni of Basking Ridge, expressed sympathy on social media after he disclosed his condition. But she also feels conflicted about her representative
“While he was able to step away, receive care, and recover, he voted for legislation that cuts Medicaid, the very program that provides health care, mental health services, therapies and lifesaving supports for families like mine,” Theresa wrote. “As the single mother of almost 14-year-old twin boys who are both profoundly autistic, I’ve spent the last several months carrying the crushing weight of wondering what happens when those services disappear.”
Kean has never been very sympathetic to New Jerseyans’ health needs. As a state legislator, he voted consistently against paid leave for nearly two decades, including New Jersey’s landmark Earned Sick Days and Paid Family Leave laws. He also voted against creating the Get Covered New Jersey Affordable Care Act marketplace
This makes Kean’s four-month absence bitterly ironic, New Jersey Citizen Action Workplace Justice Director Yarrow Willman-Cole noted in an interview with Mother Jones
“He’s been able to rely on things he directly voted against,” Willman-Cole said
She added: “You want your lawmakers to really be connected to their constituents and understand what their constituents need, and this disconnect – with a lawmaker clearly not representing the needs of the average worker and the average family – is a problem.”
This perhaps comes as no surprise. Kean’s net worth is estimated to be close to $14 million, and he has access to treatments and re
We hope Congressman Kean’s recent experiences have connected him more closely to his constituents and his fellow New Jerseyans
With his return, Kean’s immediate priority shouldn’t be closed-door fundraisers with wealthy donors. It should be the people he was elected to serve
We urge Kean to immediately schedule an open public town hall meeting that includes a discussion of our health care crisis
He should tell his constituents how he plans to work with other lawmakers to undo the damage he’s done and to ensure our health care system works for everyone
Liz Glynn is the director of Organizing for NJ Citizen Action. NJCA fights for affordable healthcare, lower prescription drug prices, national paid family leave, tax justice, and consumer protection
