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 petition needed 218 signatures for the foreign aid resolution that allocated $95 million to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
Mr. Buck was the 188th signature on March 21.
He also reportedly signed a competing discharge bill that ensures money for border security is added to the foreign aid. Also filed on March 12, that petition has 16 signatures as of March 21.
That lack of attention to America’s southern border was the reason Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) rejected the bill upon arrival on Feb. 13 after it passed 70–29 in the Senate.
The Republican from Colorado seems to have spent his last days in Congress distancing himself from his fellow party members.
His signing of the Democrats’ petition also comes after he was removed from the House Freedom Caucus despite his retirement due to attendance issues.
He opposed the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayokas and efforts to impeach President Joe Biden over alleged foreign influence peddling, and he has been unafraid to speak out against members of his party.
“Too many Republican leaders 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 prosecutions are weaponization of our justice system,” he said in a resignation interview.
“These insidious narratives breed widespread cynicism and erode Americans’ confidence in the rule of law.”
Mr. Buck has represented Colorado’s fourth district 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 already very slim House Republican majority by resigning my current seat and will 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 clear they are hungry for a real 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 haven’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.
