Hal Rogers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hal Rogers | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 5, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Tim Lee Carter |
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| Born | December 3, 1937 Monticello, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Cynthia Doyle |
| Religion | Baptist |
Harold Dallas "Hal" Rogers (born December 31, 1937), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1981, representing the Kentucky's 5th congressional district. His office is currently located in Somerset.
Rogers was born in Monticello, Kentucky, was educated at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green and the University of Kentucky at Lexington, having received a law degree. Rogers served in the Kentucky and North Carolina Army National Guard. As a lawyer Rogers was in private practice and was elected to serve as Commonwealth's Attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties in Kentucky, an office he held from 1969 to his election to Congress in 1980. Rogers was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1979, slating with former Governor of Kentucky Louie B. Nunn and losing in the general election to Democrat John Y. Brown Jr. The following year Rogers won election to Congress.
In 2001, the City of Williamsburg, Kentucky named their new water park and miniature golf facility the Hal Rogers Family Entertainment Center as a "thank-you for all of the federal money he has brought back to Whitley County, the City of Williamsburg, and the other 40 counties he represents."[1]
In 2003, Daniel Boone Parkway, a part of the Kentucky system of toll roads, was renamed Hal Rogers Parkway (over the objection of some historians) in honor of Rogers efforts to have the parkway's construction bonds paid by the federal government. This action resulted in the ending of toll collection, as required by Kentucky law when a parkway's construction bonds are paid off by toll collections or other means. The highway runs through Rogers' district, and is scheduled to become part of an expanded Interstate 66.
On January 2006, Rogers said that he would donate $32,000 he received from American Indian tribes who were clients of lobbyist Jack Abramoff to the UNITE Foundation.[2] Rogers launched that program in April 2003.[3]
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[edit] Committee Assignments
- House Appropriations Committee
- Homeland Security Subcommittee (Ranking Member)
- Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee
- House Republican Steering Committee
[edit] Identification cards, campaign donations, and trips
On May 14, 2006, the New York Times reported that Rogers had used his legislative position as chairman of the House subcommittee that controls the Homeland Security budget to create "jobs in his home district and profits for companies that are donors to his political causes. The congressman has also taken 11 trips — including six to Hawaii — on the tab of an organization that until this week was to profit from a no-bid contract Mr. Rogers helped arrange. Work has even been set aside for a tiny start-up company in Kentucky that employs John Rogers, the congressman's son."
The Lexington Herald-Leader last year called Rogers the "Prince of Pork." The Times article reported that Rogers had inserted out language ("existing government card issuance centers") into appropriations bills that effectively pushed the federal government into testing older, inappropriate technology for a new fraud-resistant green card for permanent legal immigrants, at the production plant in Corbin, Kentucky, within Rogers' district. The Times found that about $100,000 in contributions had come to Mr. Rogers from parties with at least some ties to the identification card effort.[4]
[edit] Criticism
Rogers has been widely criticized by both liberal and conservative pundits for his priorities when it comes to national security. The National Review referred to Rogers as "a national disgrace" and Rolling Stone magazine named him one of Americas "Ten Worst Congressmen", calling him "Bin Laden's Best Friend" due to the fact that Rogers steered federal tax money to his home district disproportionately away from big cities, which critics claim is one of the least likely targets in America for terrorists because of its lack of any notable monuments or population centers[1].
[edit] References
- ^ Julie Hill, "Park History", Kentucky Splash website
- ^ James R. Carroll, [http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/NEWS0104/601050386/1008/NEWS01 "State Republicans, GOP got donations tied to Abramoff: Most of $63,500 now going to other groups "], Courier-Journal, January 5, 2006.
- ^ "State Treasurer, Other Officials Help Make Economic Summit at Pikeville Expo Center a Success", Jobsight, May 2006
- ^ Eric Lipton, "In Kentucky Hills, a Homeland Security Bonanza", New York Times, May 14, 2006
[edit] External links
- U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers, 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
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Robert O'Harrow Jr. and Scott Higham, "Post-9/11 Rush Mixed Politics With Security: Congressman Benefits From Homeland Security Spending", Washington Post, December 25, 2005
| Preceded by Shirley W. Palmer-Ball |
Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky 1979–1979 |
Succeeded by Eugene P. Stuart |
| Preceded by Tim Lee Carter |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th congressional district 1981 – present |
Incumbent |
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