Why Did Michele Bachmann Bravely Run Away From Voting on Congressional Office Budget Increases?

Reader Aubrey Immelman notes: I notice Rep. Bachmann did not vote on H.R. 2918. Minnesota media should ask her why she did not join the majority of her Republican colleagues in voting against the 8 percent increase in the budget for members' office expenses the House approved for itself. It's noteworthy that the National Taxpayers Union has characterized the increase as "fiscally reckless" in the current economic recession and has vowed to include members' vote on the spending bill in its ratings of lawmakers. Perhaps DB readers should write the National Taxpayers Union and request comment on Michele Bachmann's cowardice. UPDATE: A commenter notes that Michele Bachmann was with her stepmother who died that day.