Democratic New York Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced a bill Tuesday that would require lawmakers to disclose information about their long absences. The Duty of Transparency Act would require lawmakers with prolonged absences to file a public notice stating how long they should expect to be out and whether they are able to perform their duties, according to Torres’ office. The legislation followed the long absences of lawmakers, including Republican Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean and Democratic Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson. “When a public official is absent for an extended period of time, the public has a right to an honest explanation. I’m introducing the Duty of Transparency Act to require Members…Open
Congress has a fitness problem, and Kean is just the latest example. The post The Tom Kean Question appeared first on The American Conservative .
Politics The Tom Kean Question Congress has a fitness problem, and Kean is just the latest example. Against the wishes of his doctors, Rep. Tom Kean (R-NJ) returned to Congress on Tuesday, his first appearance there in more than 100 days. Addressing the House floor, Kean began by noting that he is a “private person” before explaining his multi-month absence from his duties in Washington, DC. “Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing,” said the 57-year-old Kean. “I was given the diagnosis of depression.” It was a stark admission for a politician whose critics have long questioned his absence but were met with silence. Though depression is not disqualifying in and of itself, the lack…Open
The U.S. continues transferring aid to Israel even as it flouts American redlines in the West Bank. The post Israeli Settler Violence Continues Under American Neglect appeared first on The American Conservative .
Foreign Affairs Israeli Settler Violence Continues Under American Neglect The U.S. continues transferring aid to Israel even as it flouts American redlines in the West Bank. (Photo by Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images) The House Appropriations Committee released its spending bill for Fiscal Year 2027 covering national security, the Department of State, and related programs, which—among other appropriations—approved $3.8 billion for Israel, following the terms of a 10-year U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding. At the same time, the Israeli government continues to promote and protect violent campaigns of state-backed terror against Palestinians in ways that are so extreme that more and more Western and former Israeli officials are…Open