TRENTON — Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is facing sharp criticism after voting in favor of a controversial Republican spending package that opponents say could strip health insurance from hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents and undercut his family’s political legacy.
In an opinion column published Saturday on NJ.com, physician Dr. Ashish K. Jha accused Kean Jr. of abandoning the values of his father, former Gov. Tom Kean, by supporting the legislation — nicknamed by supporters as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
“For those of us who remember his father as a principled, compassionate leader, it’s hard not to ask: What happened?” Jha wrote.
According to the column, more than 315,000 residents across New Jersey stand to lose health insurance coverage under the bill’s Medicaid “work requirement” provision, including over 20,000 people in Kean’s own 7th Congressional District. Critics argue the requirements would impose excessive bureaucracy, leading to confusion and coverage loss even among those who are employed.
Jha warned the measure could also strain the state’s health care infrastructure by slashing the “provider tax,” a key source of funding for hospitals and nursing homes, especially in low-income and rural areas. The result, he said, could be widespread service cuts and emergency room overcrowding.
The spending bill — a centerpiece of former President Trump’s legislative agenda — passed narrowly in the House with nearly unanimous Republican support.
Kean Jr., who has positioned himself as a moderate Republican, has not publicly responded to the column.
“This vote felt like a betrayal not only of the people he represents, but of everything his father stood for,” Jha wrote.
Kean Jr.’s support for the sweeping GOP bill draws fire from critics who say it undermines health coverage and the legacy of his father.