One day before his retirement, Rep. Ken Buck ( R- Colo. ) became the first Republican in the House of Representatives to sign the Democrats ‘ discharge petition to force a vote on sending an additional$ 60 million in foreign aid to Ukraine.
Filed on March 12, the plea needed 218 names for the international support solution that allocated$ 95 million to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Mr. Buck was the 188th name on March 21.
He also officially signed a competing release act that ensures funds for border protection is added to the foreign aid. Even filed on March 12, that petition has 16 names as of March 21.
That lack of attention to America’s southern border was the reason Speaker Mike Johnson ( R- La. ) rejected the act upon entry on Feb. 13 after it passed 70–29 in the Senate.
The Republican from Colorado seems to have spent his last time in Congress distancing himself from his fellow party members.
Related Reports
His drafting of the Democrats ‘ complaint even comes after he was removed from the House Freedom Caucus despite his pension due to presence problems.
He opposed the prosecution of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayokas and efforts to oust President Joe Biden over alleged foreign control hawking, and he has been unafraid to speak out against members of his party.
” To several Republican officials are lying to America, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, describing Jan. 6 as an unguided tour of the Capitol, and asserting that the ensuing trials are weaponization of our justice system”, he said in a departure meeting.
” These insidious stories breed widespread skepticism and erode Americans ‘ trust in the law of law”.
Mr. Buck has represented Colorado’s third region since 2015. According to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis ( D), the fate of his seat is set to be decided by a special election that will be aligned with the state’s upcoming presidential primary on June 25.
” I will not further imperil the now very thin House Republican majority by resigning my present seat and may continue to deliver on my constituents ‘ priorities while also working hard to earn the votes of the people of Colorado’s 4th District who have made obvious they are thirsty for a true conservative”, she said on March 13.
She touts herself as” the only Trump- endorsed, America First candidate” and, more recently, called Mr. Buck out for” trying to help the Ukraine First candidate”.
” Odd, because I’ve been traveling all around the 4th District and have n’t yet seen the part that borders on Kyiv”.
Mr. Buck’s name will remain on the Democrats ‘ petition, and his departure drops the Republican numbers in the House to 218 lining up against the Democrats ‘ 213.
Jackson Richman and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
