Former Colorado GOP Rep. Ken Buck has criticized the dysfunction of the House following his retirement from Congress last month. Despite his mostly conservative voting record, he expressed that he was able to get more good work done when Democrats led the lower chamber.
Buck’s departure from Congress has not stopped him from making comments about the current state of the Republican-controlled House. He has voiced concerns about the House “going downhill,” and made a notable claim about his own effectiveness during his time in office. Specifically, Buck mentioned how he was able to accomplish more while Democrats were in power.
One example Buck pointed to was the bipartisan Speak Out Act, which he helped pass. This act prohibits pre-dispute nondisclosure agreements in cases involving sexual harassment and sexual assault claims. He also referenced his work on addressing antitrust issues in Big Tech as further evidence of his productivity during the time of a Democratic majority.
Despite being elected to the House as a Republican representing Colorado’s 4th congressional district in 2014, Buck feels that he was more productive when Democrats were leading the chamber. During the 118th Congress, Republicans had one of their slimmest majorities in years, creating challenges for both the former and current Speakers. The GOP currently controls the House by a narrow 218-213 margin, making it difficult for party leaders to maintain cohesion within the ranks.
