Exclusive: Key House Republican says he won't take Big Tech money
- Ashley Gold, author of Axios Pro: Tech Policy
Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.). Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), the lead Republican on the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, will stop accepting donations from Google, Facebook and Amazon, he said Wednesday.
Why it matters: Buck (R-Co.) is declining Big Tech donations as regulatory scrutiny on tech companies heats up in Washington.
- Generally tech companies give to individual candidates through their political action committees. Many of those PACs are currently on pause following the Capitol riots.
Flashback: Buck for Colorado received $2,500 each from Google LLC Netpac and Amazon Pac in 2020, according to Federal Election Commission records.
- Buck has never received donations from Facebook.
What they're saying: "As the lead Republican on the antitrust subcommittee working to hold Big Tech accountable for their anticompetitive and monopolistic behavior, I cannot continue to accept campaign donations from Facebook, Google, or Amazon," Buck said.
- The antitrust subcommittee is scrutinizing Apple for its control of the App Store as well, but Apple does not have a political action committee.
- Buck and Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), the chairman of the subcommittee, have told Axios they expect to roll out antitrust bills targeting the tech industry soon.
What to watch: Whether other legislators follow Buck's lead.
This story has been updated to include Facebook's donation history.