U.S. Representative Thomas Kean Jr.’s pathetic 29 percent score on the 2023 Humane Society Legislative Fund’s Humane Scorecard is an insult to New Jersey’s 7th District residents.

Kean finished dead last among New Jersey’s 12 House representatives, nine of whom had perfect 100 percent scores.

Kean failed to co-sponsor four common-sense animal welfare laws, including ones to strengthen the Animal Welfare Act, to phase out testing of cosmetics on animals and the sale of animal-tested cosmetics, to improve care for breeding dogs in puppy mills and to prohibit the reopening of domestic horse slaughter plants and the export of American horses to slaughter for human consumption.

It’s a stunning reversal from when, as Minority Leader of New Jersey’s senate, Kean was co-winner of the Humane Legislator of the Year award.

Any teacher will tell you that when someone gets 29 percent on a test, usually it’s because they didn’t care enough to learn the material.

Trying to protect and improve the lives of animals should not be hard to understand.

And having spoken to Kean staffers twice last year and having sent the scorecard preview to them, they were aware.

Is it possible Rep. Kean just does not care?

Larry Cohen
Fanwood