Republican congressman Tom Kean Jr. vanished from public view for nearly four months, missing over 100 votes while collecting his full $174,000 salary and benefits.
His office only offered a cryptic statement about a "personal health matter."
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This week, Kean finally revealed he had been receiving inpatient treatment for depression. He cited his private nature as the reason for the secrecy.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned the lack of communication with constituents during such a long absence. But the deeper issue is Kean's hypocrisy.
The United States is the only OECD country without a national paid leave policy. Most Americans, especially low-wage workers, have no access to paid family or sick leave.
Kean voted against New Jersey's Earned Sick Leave Act, which guarantees five paid sick days per year.
He also opposed the state's No Surprise Medical Bills Act and two paid family leave laws.
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Additionally, Kean supported Trump's tax bill that cut Medicaid and Medicare, harming vulnerable populations. His actions contrast sharply with his own extended paid leave.
Kean is not alone in such hypocrisy. Many Republican politicians have taken positions opposite to their personal actions, particularly on abortion.
For example, former congressman Tim Murphy resigned after pressuring a mistress to have an abortion, and Herschel Walker, now ambassador to the Bahamas, was accused of paying for an abortion.
Despite these contradictions, Republican voters often overlook such behavior.
The party seems to embrace a double standard, with leaders like Trump asserting they can do whatever they want.
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Kean's calendar now features fundraisers for his re-election rather than making up for lost time. His disregard for constituents reflects a broader sickness in American democracy.
