Ken Buck Breaks with GOP, Signs Democrats’ Ukraine Discharge Petition
Sooner or later earlier than his retirement, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) grew to become the primary Republican within the Home of Representatives to signal the Democrats’ discharge petition to pressure a vote on sending a further $60 million in overseas assist to Ukraine.
Filed on March 12, the petition wanted 218 signatures for the overseas assist decision that allotted $95 million to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian help in Gaza.
Mr. Buck was the 188th signature on March 21.
He additionally reportedly signed a competing discharge invoice that ensures cash for border safety is added to the overseas assist. Additionally filed on March 12, that petition has 16 signatures as of March 21.
That lack of consideration to America’s southern border was the explanation Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) rejected the invoice upon arrival on Feb. 13 after it handed 70–29 within the Senate.
The Republican from Colorado appears to have spent his final days in Congress distancing himself from his fellow occasion members.
His signing of the Democrats’ petition additionally comes after he was faraway from the Home Freedom Caucus regardless of his retirement on account of attendance points.
He opposed the impeachment of Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayokas and efforts to question President Joe Biden over alleged overseas affect peddling, and he has been unafraid to talk out towards members of his occasion.
“Too many Republican leaders are mendacity to America, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, describing Jan. 6 as an unguided tour of the Capitol, and asserting that the following prosecutions are weaponization of our justice system,” he mentioned in a resignation interview.
“These insidious narratives breed widespread cynicism and erode Individuals’ confidence within the rule of regulation.”
Mr. Buck has represented Colorado’s fourth district since 2015. In keeping with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), the destiny of his seat is ready to be determined by a particular election that will probably be aligned with the state’s upcoming presidential main on June 25.
“I cannot additional imperil the already very slim Home Republican majority by resigning my present seat and can proceed to ship on my constituents’ priorities whereas additionally working laborious to earn the votes of the individuals of Colorado’s 4th District who’ve made clear they’re hungry for an actual conservative,” she mentioned on March 13.
She touts herself as “the one Trump-endorsed, America First candidate” and, extra lately, known as Mr. Buck out for “attempting to assist the Ukraine First candidate.”
“Odd, as a result of I’ve been touring throughout the 4th District and haven’t but seen the half that borders on Kyiv.”
Mr. Buck’s title will stay on the Democrats’ petition, and his departure drops the Republican numbers within the Home to 218 lining up towards the Democrats’ 213.
Jackson Richman and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.