Texas Republican Congresswoman Kay Granger, aged 81, has been absent from her duties in Washington, D.C., for the past six months while residing in a nursing home costing $4,000 per month.
According to the Daily Mail, despite being the longest-serving Republican lawmaker, Granger has not voted or visited her Capitol Hill office since July. Her nearly 30-year legislative career was scheduled to end in January.
It wasn’t until a constituent reached out to the Dallas Express, suggesting that Granger was living in an assisted living facility, that the investigation took a new turn. According to the Daily Mail, reports stated that Granger had been placed in the facility after being found wandering and confused in her district.
Kay Granger announced her retirement in November 2023, stating that she will not fight for re-election in 2024. In the statement, she reminisced on her accomplishments, which included becoming the first female mayor of Fort Worth, the first Republican Congresswoman from Texas, and the first female Republican Appropriations Chair.
She thanked her family, staff, friends, and supporters for helping her reach these milestones. She ended with:
"Although I am not running for re-election, I plan to serve out the remainder of my term and work with our new Speaker and my colleagues to advance our conservative agenda and finish the job I was elected to do.”
Why are local officials concerned about Kay Granger's absence?
Local officials are concerned about Congresswoman Kay Granger's absence because her district, which encompasses 2 million people, is left without representation in Congress during crucial votes.
With the margin in Congress being very slim, her absence is seen as disenfranchising her constituents. There is also concern that Granger continues to receive her taxpayer-funded salary while not fulfilling her duties. Tarrant County Republican Party Chair Bo French in a statement to The Dallas Express said:
"The lack of representation for CD-12 is troubling to say the least. At a time when extraordinarily important votes are happening, including debt ceiling, disaster relief, farm bills and border issues, Kay Granger is nowhere to be found.The margin in Congress is razor thin and the lack of a Republican vote representing CD-12 disenfranchises 2 million people. We deserve better."
Rolando Garcia, a congressman at the Republican Party of Texas also expressed his views by saying in an X post:
"The fact that Kay Granger is unable to leave her nursing home to participate in the most important congressional vote of the year suggests she was already in visible decline when she ran for re-election in 2022,"
Garcia continued to remark:
Trending
"Sad that nobody cared enough to “take away the keys” before she reached this moment and a sad commentary on the congressional gerontocracy."
Kay Granger has been the U.S. Congresswoman for the 12th district of Texas, which is located in north Texas and also includes parts of Tarrant County and most of Parker County.
Reply
