Mike D. Rogers

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Mike D. Rogers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Bob Riley
Born	July 16, 1958 (aged 51) Calhoun County, Alabama
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Beth Rogers
Religion	Baptist

Michael Dennis (Mike) Rogers (born July 16, 1958), is American politician and a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing Alabama's 3rd congressional district.

[edit] Life and political career

A fifth generation resident of Calhoun County in East Alabama, Rogers graduated from Saks High School and earned both his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Masters of Public Administration at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.

At 28 years old, Rogers became the youngest person and first Republican to join the Calhoun County Commission. While serving on the Commission and working for the United Way, Rogers enrolled at the Birmingham School of Law along with his wife, Beth, and upon graduating with honors began a general law practice in Anniston. Three years later he started his own firm, which grew to become Anniston's largest.^{[citation needed]}

In 1994 he won a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives, and became Minority leader in his second term there. In 2002, Bob Riley successfully ran for governor, leaving the 3rd district vacant. Democrats had reapportioned the seat and the black population of the district had increased from 25% to 32% as a result. Rogers easily won the Republican nomination. In the general election, he faced Democratic veteran Joe Turnham, Jr., who had served three years as state party chairman and had run against Riley in the congressional election in 1998.^[1]

In a very close election, the Turnham-Rogers contest was one of the most closely watched in 2002. Both Democratic and Republican National parties targeted the district, with Speaker Dennis Hastert promising Rogers a seat on the Armed Services committee should he win. Rogers heavily outspent Turnham, raising and spending $1,656,290^[2] to Turnham's $1,015,132,^[3] with Rogers enjoying an even greater margin in independent expenditures. Rogers narrowly won the election by a 50%-48% margin.^[4] In this election, Rogers became a rare Republican endorsee of The Anniston Star.^[5]

Rogers was opposed in the 2008 general election by Democrat Josh Segall, a Montgomery attorney. On Election Day, Rogers prevailed 53% to 47%.

Rogers and his wife have three children. They reside in Saks and are members of the Baptist Church.

[edit] House record

Except on spending, where he earned only a 23% rating from Citizens Against Government Waste ^[6] Rogers has a solidly conservative voting record. He has also has worked reasonably closely with the will of his district.^{[citation needed]} He notably dissented with the Morocco free trade agreement due to potential job losses in the Alabama textile industry. On social issues Rogers has voted very conservatively, with vehement opposition to abortion, gay marriage and immigration. However, he has acted to protect the armed services industry in his area. On the Armed Services Committee, he opposed a new series of military base closures and won passage of a bill that would assure that universities would provide access to their facilities for military recruitment purposes and ROTC.

Rogers was a recipient of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ARMPAC campaign contributions. DeLay is being prosecuted on charges of felony money laundering of campaign finances and conspiracty to launder money. To date, Rogers has not offered to return any of the $30,000 he received.^[7] Rogers said that DeLay is innocent until proven guilty, and that he would not return the money "while the judicial process runs its course."^[8]

After the Democratic Party retook control of the House of Representatives in the 2006 elections, Rogers joined many relatively junior Republican members of the House in seeing their perceived influence diminish. Knowlegis, a nonpartisan lobbying information firm, dropped Rogers from being ranked as the 138th most influential Representative to being 402nd in that category.^[9]

[edit] Issues and Policy

Rogers supported an amendment to declare that people retain the right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including schools. He cosponsored legislation to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. Rogers sponsored a bill expressing the continued support of Congress for equal access of military recruiters to institutions of higher education. ^[10]

[edit] Committee Assignments

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
  • Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Readiness
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism
  • Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response (Ranking Member)

[edit] References

[edit] Electoral history

Mike D. Rogers on the Armed Services Committee

2008 General Election

2006 General Election

2004 General Election

2002 General Election

[edit] Group Ratings (2004)

• National Journal
  • Economic: 26% Liberal, 74% Conservative
  • Social: 25% Liberal, 73% Conservative
  • Foreign: 17% Liberal, 78% Conservative
• Americans for Democratic Action: 10
• American Civil Liberties Union: 0
• Chamber of Commerce of the United States: 100
• Christian Coalition: 100
• American Conservative Union: 88
• National Taxpayers Union: 49
• League of Conservation Voters: 9

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Mike D. Rogers official U.S. House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia