Chip Rogers

From dKosopedia

Category: Georgia Republicans

Chip Rogers is a Republican state senator from Woodstock, Georgia, with slick backed hair and oozing baritone. He is a darling of the Christian Right, outspoken champion of nativism and ambitious self-promoter. He is known for sign stealing and other campaign "dirty tricks."

Rogers got his start in politics as a radio station owner and talk show host. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002 and then to the State Senate in 2004. He was re-elected in 2006.

His candidacy for State Senate was marked with controversy when two teenage campaign aides were arrested for stealing the signs of his GOP opponent, Craig Dowdy. Rogers denied instructing the teenagers to steal the signs. One of the arrested teenagers was the son of a preacher. Dowdy, a respected Republican, blamed his loss to Rogers on the sign theft and other "dirty tricks" used by Rogers and his "rogue" teenage supporters. Dowdy filed criminal charges.

Rogers is best known for anti-Hispanic, anti-immigrant legislation he introduced during the 2006 legislative session. Rogers sought to deny Hispanic immigrants the "benefits" of public education and other government services. He was careful, however, to make sure that the immigrants he was targeting would still be available as cheap labor for his plantation owning buddies. He famously told the AJC that in crafting the bill, "We have bent over backwards to accommodate the agricultural interests."

Many believe that Rogers targeted Hispanic immigrants in an effort to restore his "law and order" reputation after the "dirty tricks" arrest of his campaign staff. Others believe he is a genuine "brown bashing" nativist.

Rogers is a co-namesake and member of the "Chip Caucus," a loose collection of right wing nativist politicians from Georgia who want to abolish all government programs except the U.S. Border Patrol. Confederates of the Chip Caucus include State Senators Chip Pearson, Bill Heath, Jeff Mullis, David Shafer and Casey Cagle, who was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2006 with the Chips Caucus backing.

Rogers and two of his Chips Caucus confederates were chosen by Cagle to manage his transition into power. Rogers maneuvered to obtain the job of Senate Majority Leader but was passed over by Cagle, who instead named Rogers as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

In his new role, Rogers is pursuing tax giveaways for the rich. He has also introduced legislation to outlaw bull fighting in his latest effort to stop Mexican immigration to Georgia.

References

• Jim Tharpe, "Lobbyists Influence Bill on Ilegals," The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, March 23, 2006

External Links

• Senator Chip Rogers Official Webpage