Greeley Tribune: Buck 'good fit' for Colorado's 4th Congressional District
Tribune endorsement: Rep. Ken Buck is a good fit for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District who has earned a second term
Ken Buck is our choice to represent the 4th Congressional District.
Buck, a Windsor Republican, has represented that district — which includes all of Weld County, much of eastern Colorado and some parts of Denver-area suburbs — since he was first elected two years ago. While his stint in Congress hasn’t been entirely controversy free, he is clearly well aligned ideologically with the staunchly conservative district.
“We have over $19 trillion of debt right now, and we have over $100 trillion of unfunded liabilities in this country, and I’m going to do my very best to continue to not vote for big spending bills and make sure that every penny that is spent is spent wisely and fruitfully,” he said recently, underscoring his focus on fiscal issues.
His voice for spending restraint is important in Washington. More than that, though, he’s also shown the clear ability to jump in and get things done that will affect this area for the better.
For example, Buck is the sponsor of the WATER Act. The measure would make it easier for mutual water storage and delivery companies to invest in infrastructure and maintenance without putting their nonprofit status at risk. In short, the measure would help keep water prices low for many of the rural users — such as farmers and ranchers — in the 4th Congressional District and elsewhere. The measure passed the House Ways and Means Committee with significant support from Republicans and Democrats. It’s a good bet we’ll see the measure make its way through our bitterly divided Congress soon.
Buck, who was elected by his peers to serve as the freshman class president in Congress, has had his share of minor controversy. He took fire from anti-gun activists for posing for a photo with a gun at the Capitol. And he nearly lost his class president title in a spat with GOP leadership over Buck’s unwillingness to back a free trade bill that was important to the White House and Republican leaders.
We don’t always agree with Buck’s words or deeds, but even these controversies reveal an independent streak in Buck that we think can be as much a virtue as a vice.
We hope Buck will focus his next two years on the kind of pragmatic lawmaking demonstrated by the WATER Act. But he has earned a second term in Congress.
— The Tribune Editorial Board
