An elderly Texas congresswoman who has been absent from Capitol Hill for six months has been located in a nursing home specializing in memory care, as reported by local news outlets.
Rep. Kay Granger, a Republican who has served for many years, is now 81 years old. She has not participated in any votes in Washington, D.C. since July, even though the GOP’s majority in the House is precariously thin.
Her extended absence raised concerns among her constituents in Texas’ 12th Congressional District, which encompasses the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Although Granger did not seek reelection in November, her disappearance is particularly noteworthy due to the narrow Republican majority in the House and the significant votes, including the government spending bill, being taken in the final days of her congressional term.
After repeated attempts to contact Granger’s offices, which went unanswered, and with her district office found vacant, a tip was received by a reporter from The Dallas Express, suggesting that the congresswoman had been staying at a memory care facility after being discovered disoriented while wandering near her home.
Reporters from The Dallas Express visited the facility to confirm Granger’s residence and to inquire about her potential vote on the upcoming spending bill. However, they were not allowed to speak with the congresswoman directly, as per the publication’s report.
The facility’s staff did confirm Granger’s presence at the facility, with Taylor Manziel, the assistant executive director, stating, “This is her home.”
Local officials expressed their disappointment over Granger’s absence from Washington, especially given her long tenure representing her district since 1997.
Bo French, chairman of the Tarrant County Republicans, voiced concern about the lack of representation at a critical time in Congress, calling it “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,” French commented.
Rolando Garcia, a state Republican executive committeeman, expressed his dismay at the way Granger’s 30-year political career appeared to be ending. This included her time as mayor of Fort Worth.
“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 posted on X.
“A sad and humiliating way to end her political career. Sad that nobody cared enough to ‘take away the keys’ before she reached this moment. And a sad commentary on the congressional gerontocracy,” he added.
Constituents of Granger’s district also voiced their concerns, suggesting that Congressman-elect Craig Goldman, who won the seat in November, should begin serving early.
“We need someone there with their full capacities. Swear Craig in early. That’s the solution. That’s the right thing to do. She just missed a big vote, it wasn’t won/loss on one vote but we still have to protect our country, it’s not about hurt feelings. She’s a public servant, we have thanked her for her service but now she needs to resign,” said Tarrant County resident Hollie Plemons in an interview with The Dallas Express.
Granger and her staff will remain on the taxpayers’ payroll until January 3.
{Matzav.com}