Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger, 81, has been missing votes in Washington for the past six months due to her living in a $4,000-a-month nursing home. Granger was set to retire in January after nearly 30 years in the House, but her absence has raised concerns among local officials. A visit to her office revealed a complete ghost town with no signs of anyone working there. A reporter for a local outlet discovered that Granger was living at an assisted living facility in Fort Worth, which specializes in memory loss, after she was found wandering and confused in her district.
Despite her absence, Granger’s staff continues to receive taxpayer-funded salaries, and the nursing home charges over $4,000 per month in rent. The facility offers amenities such as a 24-hour concierge, lounges, card rooms, a movie theater, an indoor pool, and group exercise classes.
Local officials are outraged by Granger’s absence, particularly during a critical time in Congress when important votes are taking place. “The lack of representation for CD-12 is troubling to say the least,” said Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French. “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.”
Granger’s decision to retire comes after nearly three decades in Congress, during which she served as the Republican chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Her district, which includes Fort Worth, is heavily Republican, and her decision not to seek reelection has sparked a debate about the next generation of leaders taking up the mantle.