Republican congressman Tom Kean Jr. has resurfaced after nearly four months of absence, revealing he was receiving inpatient treatment for depression. During his leave, he missed more than 100 votes while continuing to collect his full taxpayer-funded salary of $174,000 and benefits. His office had only offered a cryptic statement in late April citing a 'personal health matter,' and his father, former New Jersey governor Tom Kean Sr., told CNN in May that his son was battling a temporary illness.
Hypocrisy on Paid Leave
Critics highlight Kean's hypocrisy, as he has consistently voted against paid leave for others. According to Mother Jones, Kean voted against New Jersey's Earned Sick Leave Act, which mandates five paid sick days per year, as well as two paid family leave laws in 2008 and 2018. He also opposed the state's No Surprise Medical Bills Act. The US is the only OECD country without a national paid leave policy, and a 2024 Department of Labor fact sheet notes that among lowest-wage workers, 95% have no access to paid family leave and 90% lack short-term disability leave.
Broader Republican Hypocrisy
Kean is not alone in his hypocrisy. Many Republican politicians have been accused of similar double standards. For instance, former congressman Tim Murphy resigned after allegedly pressuring a mistress to have an abortion, despite his anti-abortion stance. Elliott Broidy, a top Trump fundraiser, resigned after paying $1.6 million for a Playboy Playmate's abortion. Herschel Walker, now US ambassador to the Bahamas, was accused of paying for an abortion despite his anti-abortion platform.
Despite these contradictions, Republican voters often remain unfazed. Former President Donald Trump has claimed the Constitution gives him 'the right to do whatever I want as president,' and his supporters appear to embrace this double standard.
Impact on Democracy
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raised concerns about Kean's lack of communication, stating, 'There's a valid discussion here about when it comes to the volume of an absence, what is our responsibility to our constituents in communicating around that?' Kean's calendar, rather than focusing on catching up on missed work, is reportedly filled with fundraisers for his re-election. As one observer noted, 'I'm glad he is feeling better, but his disregard for his constituents is a prime example of just how sick American democracy is.'
