Rogers Stiffs Working People

What if your boss called and asked to see you and you failed to show up? How long would you have your job?

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers in effect did that when a group of people from his district showed up for their appointment with him on Tuesday (February 5, 2008) at his office in Washington, D.C.

The group of nine constitutents were among 2,000 UAW members in town for the UAW Community Action Program meeting and had scheduled a meeting with Rogers for 3 p.m. They had already heard from both Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, who spoke to the event on Monday.

But when they showed up for their confirmed appointment with their congressional representative -- not a last-minute drop-in visit -- Rogers was nowhere to be seen.

In fact, the constituents -- who are in effect Rogers' bosses because they pay his salary and decide whether to keep him on each November -- had trouble getting their collective foot in the door.

As one member of the group said, "All of these constituents had issues that they wanted to discuss with him (Rogers) but instead we met with his Legislative Director, Mike Ward - in the hallway!"

In the hallway?

I can understand why Rogers was too busy to show up, what with having to work night and day to make sure Democrats don't do something like provide health care for poor children or some other dastardly deed.

I'll bet if the constituents had posed as health care industry lobbyists with big checks for Rogers' re-election campaign, Rogers would have shown up.