“A commonsense voice for hardworking New Jerseyans and small businesses, Congressman Tom Malinowski works hard to deliver for his constituents. Tom worked across the aisle on key priorities like protecting health care, lowering prescription drug costs, advancing the Gateway Tunnel and pushing this Congress to reinstate the state and local tax deductions to provide much needed relief for New Jersey families. I look forward to working with Rep. Malinowski in the years to come because I know when Tom says he will get the job done for New Jersey, Tom delivers.” – DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos
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To: Interested Parties
From: Christine Bennet, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: July 7, 2020
Subject: The Case Against Tom Kean Jr.
Trenton insider and career politician Tom Kean Jr. is not working for the people of New Jersey, he’s working for himself and his special interest donors. From big drug manufacturers to Mitch McConnell, Tom Kean Jr.’s vote is easily bought and he’ll do anything for personal and political gain. While Tom Malinowski is working to protect New Jerseyans from a global pandemic and rebuild an economy that works for everyone, Kean Jr. is working only for himself.
Like when Kean Jr. twice voted against creating a state health insurance exchange in New Jersey or when he voted against a bill to provide resources to working families during health care crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, Kean Jr.’s wealthy donors and corporate PACs stood to benefit and repaid him with their political and financial support. Kean Jr. then played partisan politics, abusing his position in state government to coerce local elected officials to attack his opponent and undermine bipartisan relief efforts in an attempt to disparage his opponent and advance his political campaign — all while avoiding answering tough questions about Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell and other Washington Republicans backing his candidacy.
Unlike Kean Jr., Malinowski is focused on delivering real results for the people of New Jersey. Malinowski is working with both parties to make sure life-saving medical supplies like ventilators are made right here in America and continues to push to get aid to small businesses in New Jersey to help them keep their workers on payroll and open again. He also voted for a bipartisan bill to lower health care costs for everyone and introduced another bill to cover all COVID-19 treatment.
Rep. Malinowski worked to pass a bipartisan bill that would fully restore the state and local tax deduction for New Jersey taxpayers eliminating the cap imposed by Washington Republicans’ 2017 tax law and already secured funding for the first stage of the Gateway project. Unlike Kean Jr., Malinowski is focused on holding the Trump Administration accountable.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
HEADLINE: Rep. Malinowski Leads Push To Restore State, Local Tax Deductions [New Jersey Hill, 12/27/2019]
HEADLINE: U.S. Rep Malinowski Amendment to Speed Construction of Gateway Tunnel Included in INVEST in America Act [TapInto, 6/21/2020]
HEADLINE: House Passes Restored ‘SALT’ Deduction Bill [Roll Call, 12/19/2019]
“Freshmen Democrats who spoke in favor of the bill on the floor included Mikie Sherrill and Tom Malinowski of New Jersey, Sean Casten of Illinois, Jennifer Wexton of Virginia and Katie Porter of California. All represent constituents with average SALT deductions in 2016 above $15,000, according to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.”
HEADLINE: Malinowski Has Big Cash Lead Over Kean In NJ-7 [The New Jersey Globe, 6/25/2020]
HEADLINE: Trump’s Rally In Wildwood Scares Off NJ GOP Moderates, But Not Tom Kean Jr. [NorthJersey.com, 1/13/2020]
Tom Kean Jr.: Fighting For Himself, Trump and McConnell, Not New Jersyans
JUNIOR’S HEALTH CARE RECORD MAKES NEW JERSEY SICK
Time and time again, voters name health care as the number one issue keeping them up at night and in the wake of a deadly pandemic, voters are looking for leaders who understand just how important access to affordable health care can be for families. Unfortunately for New Jerseyans, Tom Kean Jr.’s health care record proves he doesn’t understand their struggle.
Tom Kean Jr., who said “I disagree with the ACA,” voted twice against creating a statewide health insurance. He even voted against a public awareness campaign promoting the health insurance exchange. Kean Jr. voted against expanding Medicaid in New Jersey, voted against protecting consumers from surprise out-of-network medical billings, and voted against $11 million for a prescription drug program to assist seniors and people with disabilities afford prescriptions. He even bashed a bipartisan bill that would lower prescription drug costs, parroting talking points from big drug manufacturers.
What’s worse, when his crony Chris Christie considered joining other Governors in a lawsuit to dismantle the ACA, Tom Kean Jr. voted against efforts to convince Christie to avoid the lawsuit.
In another blow to working families, Kean Jr. voted against paid sick leave twice. One bill he opposed created a specific provision to provide financial security to New Jersey workers and families during epidemics – exactly like the crisis we are facing today with COVID-19. The sick leave bill also allowed for paid sick time for employees who need to watch their children if a child’s school closes or if an employee needs to take care of sick family members.
In stark contrast, Rep. Malinowski is helping New Jersey deal with the pandemic by working to get hospitals and nursing homes the resources they need, and to give smaller towns in the state their fair shot. While Kean Jr. was directing his campaign to push partisan attacks, Rep. Malinowski made personal calls to secure tests and PPE and worked to secure direct paychecks to families while expanding unemployment insurance for laid-off workers. He also demanded oversight for big corporations so they can’t use government aid to enrich their shareholders while laying off workers.
After running on health care in 2018, Tom Malinowski cosponsored a bill to let Medicare negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies, supported a bill that protects patients from surprise billing and voted to strengthen protections for people with preexisting conditions.
LOOKING OUT FOR HIMSELF, BEHOLDEN TO AND FUNDED BY SPECIAL INTERESTS
Tom Kean Jr.’s terrible health care record benefits his special interest backers and his personal financial interests. Kean Jr. has taken over his career, nearly a quarter million dollars in campaign contributions from big drug manufacturers and their PACs.
Additionally, Kean Jr. received over $462,000 from the health care industry, health insurance companies and PACs, according to a review of his state campaign finance disclosures. Kean even took over $15,000 from Bob Hugin, a drug company CEO who made his fortune by jacking up the costs of life saving drugs. Hugin’s company Celgene increased the price of lifesaving cancer medication by over 500%. Celgene even increased the price of the drug for patients in the U.S. while lowering the price significantly in Russia.
In return, Kean Jr. voted repeatedly to dismantle health care, voted against capping surprise medical bills, and backed efforts to eliminate protections for New Jerseyans with pre-existing conditions.
Even Charles Koch’s PAC gifted Kean $5,000 — showing he knows he would represent his corporate interests in DC.
Kean Jr.’s votes against protecting health care don’t just benefit his donors, they further his own financial interests. The same year Kean Jr. voted to allow insurance companies to continue the practice of surprise out-of-network billing, he earned up to $50,000 from his investment in the largest health insurance company in the country. Kean Jr. has voted to benefit his bottom line on other issues as well. Kean Jr. often voted on the side of tobacco interests while holding investments in the tobacco industry. And Kean Jr.’s opposition to the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which would lower prescription drug costs for consumers, is in line with his stock holdings in many large drug manufacturers, including one that has been held responsible for the opioid crisis.
Unlike Kean Jr., Tom Malinowski refuses to take a single dime from corporate PACs because he understands that it’s important for our leaders in Washington to be independent from big corporations. That’s why he demanded oversight of these big corporations so they can’t abuse government aid and enrich themselves and their shareholders while laying off workers during the pandemic.
MCCONNELL AND WASHINGTON REPUBLICANS’ FAVORITE SON
There’s a reason Washington Republicans like Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are lining up to support Kean Jr. Washington Republicans know Kean Jr. will be a guaranteed rubber stamp for their reckless agenda of gutting health care, raising taxes on middle class families, and lining the pockets of special interest donors.
Washington Republicans know Kean Jr. will turn a blind eye as they continue their crusade against America’s families. After all, his silence speaks volumes.
Kean Jr. cozied up to Trump for his “return to Jersey” rally, then stayed silent as Trump called the coronavirus a “hoax,” sued to tear healthcare away from millions of Americans, and failed to defend American troops abroad. In return, former Trump officials headlined Kean Jr. campaign events, and started a super PAC in support of him. And not only did Kean Jr. say nothing when Mitch McConnell blocked federal coronavirus relief funding to New Jersey — calling the help a “Blue State Bailout” — he then had McConnell send a fundraising email in support of his campaign. But that’s not the only political help Kean Jr. has accepted. Another Congressman, who was among the 67 Republicans in the House who voted against $9.7 billion to pay Superstorm Sandy flood insurance claims in January 2013, also sent a fundraising email on Kean Jr.’s behalf.
The fact that Kean Jr. would embrace and accept the help of someone who voted against helping New Jersey says more about his character than anything. For Kean Jr., it’s always about helping himself first and New Jersey last.
PATH TO VICTORY
This majority suburban, highly-educated district represents the kind of community that is quickly moving out of reach for Trump and his Republican followers. In 2018 Rep. Malinowski won the district while receiving 51.7% of the vote. Democrats now enjoy a registration edge in the 7th district.
Tom Kean Jr.’s embrace of Donald Trump, embrace of Mitch McConnell and his harmful voting record will add up to another losing federal campaign for the Trenton Insider.
A strong fundraiser who has proven that he is willing to work with Republicans and Democrats to get things done for New Jerseyans, Rep. Malinowski has put himself in prime position for re-election in November.
Rep. Malinowski has put together an impressive war chest without taking a dime from corporate PACs, heading into the general election with nearly $3 million cash on hand in one of the most expensive media markets in the country.
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