Posted on 05/14/2026 9:44:46 AM PDT by Red Badger
Accountability in Congress, it seems, is optional.
While the House of Representatives was busy casting votes this week, 83-year-old Democrat Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24) was MIA. She's reportedly missed a whopping 43 straight House votes since April 17th. And her office has provided zero explanation.
Worse than not providing any public information, those running Wilson's social media accounts appear to be recycling old photos and presenting them as if they're new.
Congressional reporter Jamie Dupree brought the odd absence to light with a social media post of his own, revealing that Wilson "missed all 10 votes" in the House on Wednesday and that she has "now missed 43 straight votes."
Her last vote on record appears to have occurred on April 17th.
"Wilson's X account this week sent out photos of a Service Academy day - but pictures from the same event were posted last October," he added.
Can you imagine if Trump avoided public appearances for nearly a month and his Truth Social account simply recycled old images? You don't really have to look back too far to envision the reaction, honestly. The President went mildly low-key before Easter weekend, and the media ran wild conspiracy theories about his health.
Anyone recall Melania in 2018, undergoing a minor kidney procedure at Walter Reed, and the rubes in the journalism field suggesting she was gravely ill, was recovering from plastic surgery, had left Trump, or was even near death?
But there's an 83-year-old Congresswoman who hasn't been seen active in public for weeks, and not one of these intrepid reporters is vaguely curious, sans Dupree?
Where is the Silver Alert?
Similarly, Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-7) hasn’t cast a vote since March 5th — racking up roughly 70 straight missed roll call votes over more than two months. His office has attributed it to a “personal health matter” but provided very few details and no firm return date.
Like Wilson, Kean's absence has drawn interest because of the narrow House majority. Every vote is crucial for both sides.
As students plan their futures, service through a U.S. Service Academy remains a powerful path to leadership, discipline, and opportunity. I was proud to host a Service Academy Day at FIU, bringing together representatives to share guidance with the next generation. For nomination information, visit my website or call my office.
Red State reached out to Congresswoman Wilson's office for comment. We'll update readers as events warrant.
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She’s hanging out with Bernie for a nice weekend!
If only all democrats would not show up to vote.
Don't rock this boat!
Or buying new hats.
Whatever happened, it's sure to be hat related.
We make fun of these representatives (including some on the GOP side too) but the bottom line is that voters are to blame for continuing to re-elect them. If voters want to elect a senile, walking corpse to represent them, its their funeral (pun intended).
Maybe Wilson is rooming with Kay Granger in a assisted living center in Texas?
I must admit I was surprised to learn she’s 83.
“83-year-old Democrat Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24)”. She’s probably been teaching Joe Biden how to ride a bicycle without tipping over.
just look for the hat
Down at the cowboy hat store?
All hat and no cattle???
The US Capitol building is the world’s most expensive nursing home.
Before I clicked on the thread, I was going to ask if she is the one with the HATS! YEP....
Someone needs to check and see if she’s being paid. There are rules about missing work - unless excused by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House.
2 U.S. Code 39. I was all over this when Edwards/Kerry/Gephardt/Kucinich/Lieberman were named in 2003 and 2004 when the National Taxpayers Union listed the names and the days missed and the amount of overpayments....called illegal Congressional salary payments.
Even kept the print outs from that time...you don’t think I kept it in my head, do you? Just lucky to remember where I filed the information!
Members of Congress do not have to follow rigid, legally binding rules to justify every missed vote, but they must operate within established parliamentary procedures to have their absences formally noted, excused, or explained in the Congressional Record.
While the Constitution grants both the House and Senate power to “compel the Attendance of absent Members,” modern practice relies heavily on courtesy and public accountability rather than strict penalties.
Leave of Absence: For extended absences, members or their staff may request a formal “Leave of Absence” from the House, stating the dates and reasons (e.g., illness, official business).
Personal Explanations: Lawmakers frequently submit “Personal Explanations” to be published in the Congressional Record. These statements explain why they were absent and how they would have voted, though they do not change the final vote tally.
Rules of Conduct: House rules technically require every member to be present during sessions unless excused or “necessarily prevented” from attending.
Reasons: Excuses can range from illness and family commitments to official business.
Senate Rules for Absences
Pairing: Senators often use a system called “pairing,” where an absent member pairs their intended vote with an opposing member who agrees to withhold their vote, effectively neutralizing the impact of the absence.
Conflict of Interest: Under Senate Rule XII, a senator is expected to vote unless they believe it would be a conflict of interest.
Formal Explanation: If a senator misses a vote for reasons other than a conflict of interest, the rules allow for an explanation, but this is rarely needed due to the pairing system.
Public Record: Even if a member does not file a formal “leave,” their voting record is public. Organizations like GovTrack.us track missed votes, and ProPublica provides tools to view explanations.
Informal Explanations: Members often use their official websites or social media to explain absences to their constituents, especially during election years.In summary, there is no automatic penalty for skipping a vote, and the process of explaining an absence is designed more for political transparency than strict compliance with formal, penalizing rules.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Mitch McConnell too, I believe.
They should have a mandatory age retirement...........
They’ve gotta milk the gravy train for as long as humanly possible - think “Weekend at Bernie’s”...
Congressman Frederica Wilson’s district (FL-24) is considered a “packed,” heavily Democratic district under the new 2026 Florida map, a technique often used in gerrymandering to concentrate minority and Democratic voters into one area, limiting their influence on surrounding districts. The district remains a “Safe Democratic” seat but is increasingly concentrated. —— The Center for Politics at UVA
Key Details on District 24’s Status:
“Packing” Strategy: The new map concentrates more Black voters into District 24, which critics say is a tactic to reduce the collective voting power of minorities in surrounding areas.
Safe Democratic: With nearly 69% of voters in the 2024 election siding with the Democratic candidate, it is one of the most reliable Democratic districts in the state.
2026 Changes: While the district loses some coastal areas, it maintains its core in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Gerrymandering Allegations: The overarching Florida map is being criticized as a partisan move, with several Democrats, including Rep. Wasserman-Schultz, describing it as a “nakedly partisan scheme”.
Under the 2026 revisions, this district remains a safe harbor for a Democratic representative while surrounding seats are made more competitive for Republicans. —— Miami Herald report
She’s dead Jim.
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