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.
Read full op-ed here.