- Onetime Rep. Ken Buck did not have an excellent impression of Capitol Hill upon his arrival in 2015.
- Buck informed The New York Occasions that he needed out of Congress “about three weeks” into the position.
- However the ex-congressman remarked that it took him some time to map out a plan to go away the Home.
Former Rep. Ken Buck has not been shy about calling out what he says is the extremely dysfunctional nature of Congress.
The Colorado Republican, who was first elected to the Home in 2014 and resigned in March after declining to hunt reelection this fall, has additionally been vital of the GOP in how they’ve dealt with their majority standing within the decrease chamber, just lately telling The Washington Submit that he acquired “extra good work carried out” when Democrats had been in cost.
And through an interview with the The New York Occasions, Buck — alongside 11 members of Congress retiring on the finish of their phrases — rattled off a listing of why they had been leaving the storied American establishment.
However not even a month into his tenure in Congress, Buck revealed that he was already eyeing the exits.
“I knew it was time to go away about three weeks after I acquired to Congress. It simply took me a very long time to attempt to determine how one can get out of this place,” the previous congressman informed the Occasions.
One of many greatest issues on Capitol Hill that the members — and Buck — recognized of their interviews was the affect of cash and particular curiosity teams in politics.
“I used to be informed initially that I needed to increase $250,000 if I needed to be on sure committees. And if I needed to be on extra essential committees — or committees with broader jurisdiction — I wanted to lift much more cash,” the ex-congressman informed the newspaper. “Shopping for a committee seat will not be one thing that almost all People know that almost all members should do.”
Buck additionally mentioned it was “very tough” to keep up two residences on his $174,000 wage, noting that his compensation was considerably increased than what lots of his one-time constituents earn annually.
