Mike Rogers (Alabama politician)

Michael Dennis Rogers (born July 16, 1958) is an American politician and the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 3rd congressional district, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Mike Rogers
Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Mac Thornberry
Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Bennie Thompson
Succeeded by	John Katko
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Bob Riley
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from the 36th district
In office 1994–2002
Preceded by	James Campbell
Succeeded by	Randy Wood
Calhoun County Commissioner
In office 1987–1990
Personal details
Born	July 16, 1958 Hammond, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Beth Phillips ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	3
Education	Jacksonville State University (BA, MPA) Birmingham School of Law (JD)
Website	House website

Early life and education

A sixth generation resident of Calhoun County in East Alabama, Rogers graduated from Saks High School[1] and earned both his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Masters of Public Administration at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.[2][3]

Early political career

At 28 years old, Rogers became the youngest person to join the Calhoun County Commission.[4]

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.[5]

U.S. House of Representatives

Tenure

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.[6][7]

He earned the title of "April 2012 Porker of the Month"[8] and has only a 23% rating from Citizens Against Government Waste.[9]

In 2017, Rogers worked with Democratic Representative Jim Cooper of Tennessee on a proposal to establish a Space Corps under the Department of the Air Force. This proposal passed in the House and then failed in the Senate.[10] A bill with very similar language was signed into law two years later to create the United States Space Force.[11]

Committees

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Readiness
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on Homeland Security (Ranking Member)

Caucus Memberships

• Congressional Cement Caucus
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus[12]
• Veterinary Medicine Caucus[13]
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus[14]
• Republican Study Committee[15]

Political positions

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.[16] 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 co-sponsored 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.[17] He also introduced legislation making it illegal to satirize or in any way parody the Transportation Security Administration.[18]

Abortion

Rogers is anti-abortion. As of 2020, he has a 100% rating from National Right to Life[19] in contrast to zero percent from NARAL in 2018 regarding his abortion-related votes.[20] He opposes banning federal health coverage if abortion is included and opposes using human embryos for stem cell research. Rogers has voted in support of efforts to restrict interstate transport of minors for abortions and allowing partial-birth abortion only if the mother's life is at risk. He also opposes human cloning and signed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. He also co-sponsored the Sanctity of Human Life Act. Rogers is a supporter of fetal rights.[21]

Civil rights

As of 2019, Rogers has a 19% rating in regarding civil rights-related legislature from the NAACP.[22]

Rogers voted in opposition to the Violence Against Women Act in 2013.[23]

He believes that marriage is between a man and a woman and he voted for the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004. In 2007, Rogers voted in opposition of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.[23] Rogers has a zero out of 100 rating from the Human Rights Campaign regarding pro-LGBTQ policies.[24]

Crime

Rogers opposed expanding federal hate crime law to include LGBTQ hate crimes. He voted in support of the Second Chance Act of 2007.[25]

Economy

Rogers is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[26] He voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[27]

Foreign affairs

In June 2016, he called for the United States withdrawal from the United Nations in the wake of the Brexit vote by the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union.[28] On January 3, 2017, Rogers once again called for the US to withdraw from the United Nations by introducing the "American Sovereignty Act of 2017" to the House of Representatives.[29] The bill is currently in the introductory state and still needs House, Senate, and presidential approval. On January 3, 2019, Rogers submitted a similar bill titled H.R.204 - American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2019.[30]

Terrorism

Rogers voted in support of the Patriot Act.[23]

Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Rogers was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of the election held by another state.[31][32][33]

New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell, citing section three of the 14th Amendment, called for Pelosi to not seat Rogers and the other Republicans who signed the brief supporting the suit. Pascrell argued that "the text of the 14th Amendment expressly forbids Members of Congress from engaging in rebellion against the United States. Trying to overturn a democratic election and install a dictator seems like a pretty clear example of that."[34]

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[35] to Turnham's $1,015,132,[36] with Rogers enjoying an even greater margin in independent expenditures. Rogers narrowly won the election by a 50%–48% margin.[37] In this election, Rogers became a rare Republican endorsee of The Anniston Star.[38]

However, Rogers has only faced one other contest nearly that close. In 2008, Joshua Segall held him to only 54 percent of the vote—the only time since his initial election that Rogers has fallen below 59 percent of the vote.

• 2008 Rogers won against Democratic nominee Joshua Segall, a Montgomery attorney, and Independent Mark Layfield.

• 2010 Rogers defeated Democratic nominee Steve Segrest.

Campaign contributions from ARMPAC

Rogers was a recipient of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ARMPAC campaign contributions.[39] DeLay was prosecuted and convicted on charges of felony money laundering of campaign finances and conspiracy to launder money. As of August 2016, Rogers has not offered to return any of the $30,000 he received.[40] Rogers said that DeLay is innocent until proven guilty, and that he would not return the money "while the judicial process runs its course."[41]

Honors

Rogers was made Commander of the Order of the Star of Romania on June 8, 2017[42][43]

Electoral history

Alabama House of Representatives 36th district election, 1994

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers	5,371	56.3
	Democratic	James Campbell (incumbent)	4,172	43.7
Total votes			9,543	100.0
	Republican gain from Democratic

Alabama House of Representatives 36th district election, 1998

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	7,733	99.0
	Write-in		77	1.0
Total votes			7,810	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district Republican primary, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers	28,113	76.1
	Republican	Jason Dial	4,681	12.7
	Republican	Jeff Fink	4,134	11.2
Total votes			36,928	100.0

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers	91,169	50.3
	Democratic	Joe Turnham	87,351	48.2
	Libertarian	George Crispin	2,565	1.4
Total votes			181,085	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	150,411	61.2
	Democratic	Bill Fuller	95,240	38.8
Total votes			245,651	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	97,742	59.6
	Democratic	Greg Pierce	62,891	38.3
	Independent	Mark Layfield	3,396	2.1
Total votes			164,029	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	142,708	54.0
	Democratic	Joshua Segall	121,080	45.8
Total votes			263,788	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2010

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	117,736	59.4
	Democratic	Steve Segrest	80,204	40.5
Total votes			197,940	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	175,306	64.0
	Democratic	John Andrew Harris	98,141	35.8
	Write-in		483	0.2
Total votes			273,390	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district Republican primary, 2014

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	50,372	75.9
	Republican	Thomas Casson	15,999	24.1
Total votes			66,371	100.0

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	103,558	66.1
	Democratic	Jesse Smith	52,816	33.7
	Write-in		246	0.2
Total votes			156,620	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district Republican primary, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	77,432	76.0
	Republican	Larry DiChiara	24,474	24.0
Total votes			101,906	100.0

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	192,164	66.9
	Democratic	Jesse Smith	94,549	32.9
	Write-in		391	0.1
Total votes			287,104	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	147,770	63.7
	Democratic	Mallory Hagan	83,996	36.2
	Write-in		149	0.1
Total votes			231,915	100.0
	Republican hold

Alabama's 3rd congressional district, 2020

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	217,384	67.5
	Democratic	Adia Winfrey	104,595	32.5
	Write-in		255	0.1
Total votes			322,234	100.0
	Republican hold

Personal life

Rogers is married, with three children. They reside in Saks and are members of a Baptist Church.[44]

References

1. "Mike Rogers - Saks High School - Anniston, AL". sakshighschool.org. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
2. "Jacksonville State University -". www.jsu.edu. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
3. "JSU News Wire". www.jsu.edu. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
4. [email protected], Laura Gaddy, Star Staff Writer. "Gerald Willis, public servant and businessman, dies at 75". Retrieved 26 October 2017.
5. "Riley a Rerun in U.S. House," The Anniston Star, November 4, 1998, p. 1A
6. Sonmez, Felicia (December 7, 2011). "REINS bill to expand congressional power over executive regulations passed by House". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
7. "Mike Rogers | Congressional Scorecard – FreedomWorks". Congress.freedomworks.org. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
8. Archived May 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
9. "Citizens Against Government Waste: Scorecard". Councilfor.cagw.org. Archived from the original on November 28, 2008. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
10. Smith, Marcia (September 27, 2018). "ROGERS, COOPER REJECT GOLD PLATING OF SPACE CORPS". SpacePolicyOnline.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
11. Erwin, Sandra (December 11, 2019). "Space Force proponents in Congress warn Air Force: 'We will watch you like a hawk'". SpaceNews. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
12. "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
13. "Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus". Veterinary Medicine Caucus. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
14. "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
15. "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
16. Archived October 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
17. "Congressman Mike Rogers: Official Website". Archived from the original on August 24, 2006.
18. Rogers, Mike. "Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2011". govtrack.us. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
19. "National Right to Life Congressional Scorecard U.S. House 116th Congress 2019-20" (PDF). National Right to Life. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
20. "2018 Congressional Record on Choice". NARAL. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
21. "Michael Rogers on Abortion". On the Issues. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
22. "How Congress Voted in the 115th Congress" (PDF). NAACP. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
23. "Michael Rogers on Civil Rights". On the Issues. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
24. "Human Rights Campaign Congressional Scorecard 115th Congress" (PDF). Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
25. "Michael Rogers on Crime". On the Issues. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
26. "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List" (PDF). Americans for Tax Reform. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
27. Almukhtar, Sarah (19 December 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
28. "In the wake of Brexit, Alabama congressman wants U.S. to exit U.N. - Yellowhammer News". 26 June 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
29. Forhetz, Sara. "A proposal for the U.S. to pull out of the U.N." Retrieved 2017-01-23.
30. Rogers, Mike D. (January 3, 2019). "Text - H.R.204 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2019". www.congress.gov.
31. Liptak, Adam (2020-12-11). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
32. "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. 2020-12-11. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
33. Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
34. Williams, Jordan (2020-12-11). "Democrat asks Pelosi to refuse to seat lawmakers supporting Trump's election challenges". TheHill. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
35. "sdrdc.com". herndon1.sdrdc.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
36. "sdrdc.com". herndon1.sdrdc.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
37. "Alabama Secretary of State: Certification of Results, 2002 General Election" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
38. "For Congress," The Anniston Star, October 22, 2002, p. 8A
39. "Campaign for America's Future: 26 Congressmen Bought Out by Rep. DeLay". Ourfuture.org. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
40. Smith, Jesse (2016-08-04). "Mike Rogers operates under his own double standard". Retrieved 2017-01-22.
41. "Allies to Keep DeLay's Money," The Decatur Daily, October 9, 2005, p. 1A Archived March 24, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
42. "Klaus Iohannis a decorat opt congresmani americani cu Ordinul Steaua României în grad de Comandor". adevarul.ro (in Romanian). June 9, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
43. Peia, Florentina; Iacob, Simona (June 9, 2017). Purcarea, Vicentiu; Pandea, Razvan-Adrian (eds.). "President Iohannis and U.S. congressmen discuss Romania's inclusion in Visa Waiver programme". Agepres. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
44. "About Mike Rogers | Mike Rogers for Congress". www.mikerogersforcongress.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.

External links

• Congressman Mike Rogers official U.S. House website
• Mike Rogers for Congress
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Mike Rogers (Alabama politician) at Curlie
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress