Mike J. Rogers

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Michael J. "Mike" Rogers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Debbie Stabenow
Born	June 2, 1963 (1963-06-02) (age 46) Livingston County, Michigan
Political party	Republican
Spouse	[single (divorced)]
Residence	Howell, Michigan
Alma mater	Adrian College
Occupation	investigator
Religion	Methodist

Michael J. "Mike" Rogers (born June 2, 1963), member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Michigan, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district.

Rogers was born in Livingston County, Michigan. He graduated from Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan in 1985, from which he earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, and served in the United States Army from 1985 to 1989. He worked as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in its Chicago office, specializing in organized crime and public corruption cases, 1989–1994. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate, 1995–2000, serving as majority floor leader, 1999–2000. He is also a former small business owner.

He was elected as a Republican from the 8th District of Michigan to the United States House of Representatives in one of the nation's closest congressional races of 2000. He narrowly defeated Democratic State Senator Dianne Byrum by 111 votes to win the District 8 seat left open by Debbie Stabenow^[1]. Stabenow was elected to the United States Senate. He defeated Frank McAlpine in 2002, Robert "Bob" Alexander in 2004, and Jim Marcinkowski in 2006, and Robert "Bob" Alexander in 2008.

Rogers was the primary sponsor of the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, H.R. bill 5037, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 29, 2006. This bill is designed to ban protests from occurring near the funerals of soldiers that were killed in action. While in the Michigan Senate, he wrote legislation creating the Michigan Education Savings Plan, which allows Michigan families to set aside tax-free funds for educating their children when they are ready for college or vocational training^[2]. In Congress, Rogers’ measure to make education savings plans free of federal taxes was adopted in 2003 (see Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001).

Rogers recently introduced legislation to make the United States energy independent by July 4, 2015^[3]. Rogers’ plan focuses on increased use of nuclear energy, greater funding for research and development of alternative fuels, and the opening up of more domestic sources of oil^[4].

Rogers has also introduced pain care management legislation pertaining to Americans who are restricted by severe, chronic pain^[5]. Rogers' proposed Health Savings Account program for low-income families who are covered by Medicaid was signed into law on February 8, 2008^[6].

In 2006, he cosponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act^[7] and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.^[8]

On September 29, 2008, Rogers voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.^[9]. Explaining his vote, Rogers said that he disagreed with the way Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson had framed the debate in Washington, and that other bi-partisan solutions should be considered to address the underlying economic problems^[10].

In June, 2009, following a trip to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Rogers accused the Obama administration of secretly ordering the FBI to start reading Miranda rights to suspected terrorists held at U.S. military detention facilities in Afghanistan after witnessing it at the Bagram Theater Internment Facility. He said soldiers, especially, were frustrated that giving high value detainees Miranda rights is impeding their ability to pursue intelligence on the battlefield. "What I found was lots of confusion and very frustrated people on the front lines who are trying to, well, make Afghanistan successful for the United States and its allies. I witnessed it myself, talked to the people on the ground. What you have is two very separate missions colliding in the field in a combat zone. Again, anytime that you offer confusion in that environment that's already chaotic and confusing enough, you jeopardize a soldier's life."^[11]

Rogers is the youngest of five sons. His father was a public school teacher-administrator-football coach and his mother was the director of a local Chamber of Commerce. He has two children and resides in Howell, Michigan.

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Health
• Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
  • Subcommittee on Terrorism/HUMINT, Analysis and Counterintelligence (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

[edit] See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2008

[edit] References

• Mike J. Rogers at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers – official House site
• Federal Election Commission — Michael J Rogers campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Mike J. Rogers issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Mike J. Rogers campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Mike J. Rogers (MI) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Mike J. Rogers profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Mike J. Rogers voting record
• Mike Rogers for Congress – official campaign site