The Anniston Star reported yesterday that Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers has heard no complaints about his affirmative vote for the American Health Care Act. The article is behind a pay wall, but the headline begs for explanation from Congressman Rogers. We know that he has receive complaints because we have called to complain. Either he is not getting the messages from the folks who answer his phones or he is just not listening, maybe it is a little of both.
What is clear from his inattention to his 03 district voters and his voting record is that he is not a reliable advocate for healthcare needs of the people living in his district. If he has not heard yet, then we need to call more.
Congressman Rogers needs to now that we oppose the passage of the American Health Care Act for many reasons, not the least of which are:
- Preexisting Conditions. We have them and the AHCA will make it possible for insurance companies to refuse to cover people with preexisting conditions.
- AHCA weakens Medicare by reducing it’s solvency to 2025 from 2028
- The Affordable Care Act has the Medicare Part D “donut hole” on schedule to close in 2020. Repealing the Affordable Care Act could force Medicare participants to cover much of the prescription medication needs out of their own pockets.
- The AHCA is bad for women in ways to numerous to name in this post. The Kaiser Family Foundation does an excellent job of spelling out the problem in Ten Ways That the House American Health Care Act Could Affect Women
Congressman Rogers can be reached at the following numbers:
Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 225-3261
Fax: (202) 226-8485
Anniston, AL
Phone: (256) 236-5655
Fax: (256) 237-9203
Opelika, AL
Phone: (334) 745-6221
Fax: (334) 742-0109
Call him and make your voice heard. However, don’t be surprised if he acts like you never called. Many people in his district have been trying to get him to listen for a while now. He just seems to ignore them. Here are some examples of letters to the Anniston Star, one newspaper in his district
On Monday, I telephoned Rep. Mike Rogers’ office to find out when he planned to have a town-hall meeting or time for meeting face-to-face with constituents during next week’s recess. I was told he would be doing “committee work” and will be unavailable to meet with anyone next week.
On Tuesday, I heard Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announce that he had held five town-hall meetings in the last two weeks. He wanted his constituents’ input on the very important legislative actions that are coming up soon.
If Walden can make time for his constituents, why can’t Rogers? The 3rd congressional district elected him to represent us (and to get paid by our tax dollars for doing so). Isn’t it important to meet with us and listen to our wishes and concerns? I urge Rogers to change his plans and make time for the people he represents.
Anne Kerr
February 15, 2017
Re “Residents hold town hall, minus Congressman Rogers” (News article, March 8):
As a follow-up to our group’s Rep. Mike Rogers Town Hall in Absentia last week in Anniston, I wanted to add that U.S. congressmen are scheduled for numerous recess periods throughout the year for the purpose of returning them to their districts to meet with constituents. Rogers has already spent an eight-day recess period in February on other committee travel. Congress is scheduled for another two-week recess in April for district work and meeting with constituents.
We have no idea if Rogers plans to meet with large numbers of constituents during that time. His office will only say that he will plan town halls later in the year. What does that mean?
I contacted Rogers’ office last fall during a similar recess period and was told then that he was on committee travel. Perhaps Rogers is involved on too many committees. If he spends the bulk of his recess time throughout the year on committee travel, then how is he to know what his constituents are concerned about? Remember, he is our representative. He should be accountable to us.
Please call his office to let him know we want him to hear our concerns now, not later in the year. His Anniston office number is 256-236-5655.
Karen Barwick
Pell City
March 12, 2017
I am 80 years old. I have to use a walker. Due to an operation, I cannot speak. I don’t go out at night. But I would go to a town-hall meeting of Congressman Mike Rogers, representative of the 3rd congressional district of Alabama, if he would have one.
O.C. Brown
Auburn
April 14, 2017
In March, frustrated voters finally decided to have a town hall meeting whether Rogers showed up or not. Residents hold town hall, minus Congressman Rogers No, he did not attend.
The people of the Alabama 3rd Congressional District are persistent. In April, they were back in the streets raising awareness of Congressman Rogers lack of availability. Protesters in Anniston say they want town hall with Mike Rogers
To our knowledge, the citizens of East Alabama are still waiting on Congressman Rogers to host a town hall meeting. However, Congressman Rogers has managed to meet with donors and potential donors. Case in point, Thank you to the Montgomery Chamber for having me this morning for Eggs and Issues!
What is clear is that Congressman Rogers either does not care about what people in his district think about the American Health Care Act or he just does not care.
The problem is that he will likely never suffer the impact of the bad policies and laws that he votes to approve. We, the people of Alabama will. We have to call. We have to #ProtectOurCare.
#HandsOffMedicare 