TRENTON, NJ – Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is facing criticism after voting in favor of a Republican-backed health care proposal that would allow key Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to expire — a move opponents warn will raise insurance premiums and limit coverage options for thousands of New Jersey residents.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) issued a statement Wednesday accusing Kean of supporting what it called a “cost-spiking” plan that benefits insurers at the expense of working families. The group said the measure would promote short-term “junk” insurance plans, weaken protections for people with preexisting conditions, and drive up overall health care costs.
DCCC spokesperson Eli Cousin said Kean’s vote reflects a pattern of “gutting health care and making life more expensive for New Jersey families.” The statement also noted that even some Republican lawmakers had criticized the plan, with one calling it “milquetoast garbage.”
Kean, a first-term Republican representing New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, has defended prior efforts to reform health care policy, arguing that market-based changes can expand choice and reduce government costs. However, the latest measure has drawn strong opposition from Democratic leaders and advocacy groups who warn that millions of Americans could lose coverage if ACA tax credits are not renewed.