Many around the country have asked for term limits. This isn’t going to make anyone feel better.
Because this high profile politician was exposed for living in a retirement home.
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, has been living in a retirement facility, a source told Fox News on Sunday, pushing back on claims from a local news outlet that she was in a memory care unit.
The 81-year-old congresswoman, who is retiring at the end of her term, has faced mounting questions about her prolonged absence from Capitol Hill, having last cast a vote on July 24 and missing over 54% of votes this year.
The *Dallas Express* recently investigated Granger’s extended absence, citing a constituent who claimed the congresswoman was residing in a memory care facility in Texas.
The report gained traction among other outlets, but a source close to Granger told Fox News this was inaccurate.
According to the source, Granger is indeed in a retirement facility that offers memory care services but clarified she is not in the memory care unit itself.
Addressing concerns about her health, Granger released a statement to Fox News acknowledging she has been dealing with “unforeseen health challenges” that have complicated her ability to travel to Washington.
“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year,” Granger said.
“However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed, making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable. During this time, my incredible staff has remained steadfast, continuing to deliver exceptional constituent services, as they have for the past 27 years.”
Despite her reduced presence in the House, Granger made a notable return to Capitol Hill in November for the unveiling of her portrait as Appropriations Committee Chairwoman.
The event was attended by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who both praised her service during a reception that followed.
Granger, who has served in the House since 1997 and was the first female mayor of Fort Worth, chose not to seek re-election, with this term marking the end of her congressional career.
Granger’s extended absence has drawn criticism, particularly from Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who took to X to condemn what he described as a “sclerotic gerontocracy.”
“Kay Granger’s long absence reveals the problem with a Congress that rewards seniority & relationships more than merit & ideas,” Khanna wrote.
“We need term limits. We need to get big money out of politics so a new generation of Americans can run and serve.”
Khanna has been vocal on the issue of aging lawmakers, previously calling for Sen. Dianne Feinstein to step down due to health concerns before her passing in September 2023.
Granger’s situation underscores the challenges facing Congress, particularly as a slim Republican majority relies heavily on attendance for legislative victories.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
