Buck, Lamborn give ‘exit interviews’ on the state of Congress

DENVER (KDVR) — Twelve outgoing lawmakers, including Ken Buck and Doug Lamborn, opened up about their frustrations with Congress in so-called “exit interviews” this week with The New York Times.

The newspaper asked each lawmaker the same questions, from their biggest worries about the future to the perks of the job — and even how to fix Congress.

Buck’s interview came more than a month after he resigned from his term as representative for the 4th Congressional District. The Republican discussed divisiveness, the cost of living in Washington and paying to be on certain committees.

Meanwhile, Lamborn also touched on his frustrations with the office and wages. The Republican from Colorado’s 5th Congressional District will finish the rest of his term in January and said of Congress: “We have to change the culture and fix it at its root.”

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Buck said lawmakers seemed to get along better between the 1970s and 1980s, when members of Congress all lived in Washington and got to know each other socially.

“Now, getting back to the district is essential,” Buck said. “So I can see why it’s shifted. But the shift has caused some of the dysfunction in Congress.”

How can Congress improve in the eyes of the public?

On “Colorado Point of View” this week, political analysts also weighed in on what lawmakers need to do to improve the public’s opinion of Congress.

Republican analyst Michael Fields blames specific lawmakers.

“There is kind of the entertainment wing in both parties that don’t do a service to the country,” Fields said, adding: “And I think too many people care about themselves right now.”

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Democratic analyst Andy Boian agreed, but he added: “A lot of the congressmen and women that are there now want to be in the middle, want to compromise.”

“You see good Republicans that are moderate Republicans, moderate Democrats as well, that are leaving, saying we can’t get anything done,” Boian said.

Watch the full conversation this week on “Colorado Point of View.” It airs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and again at 7:30 a.m. Sunday on Colorado’s Very Own Channel 2.

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