Preceded by Bob Riley Political party Republican Name Mike Rogers Spouse Beth Rogers | Preceded by James Campbell Religion Baptist Role U.S. Representative Succeeded by Randy Wood | |
 | ||
Born July 16, 1958 (age 65)
Hammond, Indiana, U.S. ( 1958-07-16 ) Alma mater Jacksonville State University; Birmingham School of Law Office Representative (R-AL 3rd District) since 2003 Children Elliot Rogers, Evan Rogers, Emily Rogers Education Birmingham School of Law (1991), Jacksonville State University (1984), Jacksonville State University (1981) Similar People Robert Aderholt, Spencer Bachus, Josiah Bonner, Bob Riley, Richard Shelby | ||
Michael Dennis "Mike" Rogers (born July 16, 1958), is the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 3rd congressional district, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Contents
Early life and education
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.
Early political career
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.
In 1994 he won a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives, and became Minority leader in his second term. In 2002, Bob Riley successfully ran for governor, leaving the 3rd district vacant. 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.
Committees
Caucus Memberships
Political positions
Except on spending, where he earned the dubious title of "April 2012 Porker of the Month" and only a 23% rating from Citizens Against Government Waste Rogers has a conservative voting record. He dissented with the Morocco free trade agreement due to potential job losses in the Alabama textile industry. On social issues Rogers has voted in 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. Despite this, in 2008, he received a rating of 50% from the American Conservative Union, one of the most moderate voting records of a Southern Republican for that year.
Rogers was a recipient of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ARMPAC campaign contributions. DeLay was prosecuted and convicted on charges of felony money laundering of campaign finances and conspiracy to launder money. To date, Rogers has not offered to return any of the $30,000 he received. Rogers said that DeLay is innocent until proven guilty, and that he would not return the money "while the judicial process runs its course."
After the Democratic Party took 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.
Rogers is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
In December 2011, Rogers voted in support of H.R. 10, the "Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act," which would have required Congressional approval for any "major regulations" issued by the executive branch but, unlike the 1996 Congressional Review Act, would not require the president's signature or override of a probable presidential veto.
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. He also introduced legislation making it illegal to satirize or in any way parody the Transportation Security Administration.
Political campaigns
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 to Turnham's $1,015,132, with Rogers enjoying an even greater margin in independent expenditures. Rogers narrowly won the election by a 50%–48% margin. In this election, Rogers became a rare Republican endorsee of The Anniston Star.
Personal life
Rogers and his wife have three children. They reside in Saks and are members of a Baptist Church.