Right after announcing his resignation from Congress next week, Ken Buck appears on CNN to talk about it:
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) March 12, 2024
"I think this place is dysfunctional." pic.twitter.com/Xh3A6ohjgY
Buck criticized dysfunction on Capitol Hill in discussing his decision to leave, telling CNN's Dana Bash, "It is the worst year of the nine years and three months that I've been in Congress and having talked to former members, it's the worst year in 40, 50 years to be in Congress. But I'm leaving because I think there's a job to do out there."
"This place has just devolved into this bickering and nonsense and not really doing the job for the American people," he said.
The Colorado Republican's departure from the House will shake up the chamber's partisan breakdown, where Republicans control only a very narrow majority – a major challenge for Speaker Mike Johnson who has frequently been forced to rely on votes from Democrats as well as Republicans to get major pieces of legislation across the finish line. Buck's decision to step down before the end of his term will trim Republicans' slim edge to 218 seats over 213 for Democrats, with three vacancies. With that breakdown, Republicans could only afford to lose two votes to pass legislation on a party-line vote.
GOP Rep. Ken Buck to leave Congress at end of next week | CNN Politics
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