I used to know a state senate leader in Michigan. He took great pride in never, ever missing a vote. He commuted about 100 miles. I was waiting for him on his office once and he was stuck in traffic. His staff was busy trying to reschedule a vote so he could keep his 100% record. He just made it.
That should not be unusual, but unfortunately it is. We elect those people to write law and vote. Not to attend dinners or fund raise or any of that other junk. Write law, debate it, vote on it and they are paid handily for it. It really is pathetic;/ What bugged me most about him however is using the EXCUSE of family commitments. I use an excuse like that when I miss a BBQ due to family commitments, not to miss work. Can you imagine telling your boss...oh sorry I couldn’t come to work, my family was having a BBQ;/