When Congressman Ken Buck cancels an interview set up 10 days in advance, giving us just a few hours notice, and then won't commit to another time, we go 'Buck hunting.'
Political Reporter Brandon Rittiman met up with the Fourth Congressional District Representative on Wednesday outside of his office in the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
That interview lasted less than two minutes, included a ride in an elevator and ended with Buck walking away.
We wanted to talk with Buck after he flip flopped regarding his position on the American Health Care Act, the bill that was supposed to replace the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as "Obamacare."
While trying to hold Buck accountable to his constituents, he accused 9NEWS of being unfair in our reporting of his position.
"What you said was that the president tweeted something that made me change my opinion, and you know all along that I had told people within a few hours after I had talked to you, that I as going to vote yes on it," said Buck. "The president's tweet had nothing to do with my position."
Actually, that's not true.
The American Health Care Act was pulled from the House floor before receiving a vote late last month.
Immediately after the bill was pulled, Buck told 9NEWS he remained undecided.
"It was changing and I thought getting better in some respects, and I was looking forward to hearing the rest of the debate, but I had not committed...," Buck said in a phone interview. "I was not completely sold on the bill."
In an opinion piece for The Hill six days later, Buck was firm in his position in favor of the bill.
"I supported the American Health Care Act last Friday because it was the right vote," Buck said. "I didn't begin as a big fan, but I ended up satisfied that America needed this bill to start a process to repair our healthcare system."
President Trump shared that op-ed on Twitter.
Great op-ed from @RepKenBuck. Looks like some in the Freedom Caucus are helping me end #Obamacare. https://t.co/Y2vTnIBTBZ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017
Buck was scheduled to be interviewed on Next on April 17. It was an interview set up by the publisher of a new book that he just released. That interview was scheduled 10 days earlier, but the publisher canceled on Buck's behalf the morning of the interview. She said that "something immovable came up."
His staff could not reschedule the interview because we were told it would have violated House ethics rules because it involved his book, and that the publisher had full control of his schedule. We were also unsuccessful trying to schedule an interview through his spokesman for Balance of Power.
His office told us "he has a packed calendar for quite a while" and that they would let us know if that ever changed.
That brings us back to Washington, D.C. and his brief chat with Rittiman.
"That's what your story said and that's unfair. Your story said that the president tweeted something and that I was afraid because of his tweet, so I announced that I was in favor of it. That's not true," Buck said.
"I have to go back and look, I do not recall writing that, but I'll have a look at our story. I know the president tweeted out your op-ed," said Rittiman.
"I've got to go, but you should look at your story," Buck said.
"Which was true Congressman? Was it true that you were going to vote for it and you weren't going to tell us?" asked Rittiman.
Buck walked away without saying a word about why he took two different positions on the bill.
