[Daily Signal] Corruption on Capitol Hill is "worse than you think," Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., insists."When you first get here, you think that you are in some sort of fairy-tale novel," Buck said. "They wine and dine you and they show you just exactly what it’s like if you play the game. It’s a wonderful life."
Things quickly change, however, if "you don’t play the game."
"If you don’t play the game ... it becomes a much less conformable existence here," Buck said.
Buck, who has served Colorado’s 4th Congressional District since 2015, previewed his new book, "Drain the Swamp: How Washington Corruption is Worse Than You Think," published on Tuesday.
Chapters in Buck’s book include "Why Washington is a Swamp," "Play the Game‐Or Else," "Beating the Beltway Bullies," and "What You Can Do To Drain the Swamp."
Worse than I thought? How does one increase a perceived 100% level of corruption ?
Buck said his book addresses corruption present in government today that he was not prepared for after being elected to Congress in 2014.
"One of the things that I found startling when I got here is that you have to pay dues to be on a committee," Buck said.
During the time he served on the House Judiciary Committee, Buck said he had to pay periodic dues of $200,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign committee of the House of Representatives.
Now, as a member of the House Rules Committee, Buck’s periodic dues are $450,000.
The obligation to pay dues, Buck said, forces members of Congress to hold fundraising receptions and encourages corrupt influences from special interest organizations who attend the fundraisers.