Thirteen Weeks and Two Pages to Answer a Yes or No Question about Global Warming

On February 7, 2007, I sent an email to Rep. Rogers' office asking the following question:

I would like to know how Rep. Rogers voted in this National Journal Poll about Global Warming.

Does the Congressman believe "it's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the Earth is warming because of man-made problems?"

The poll I was referring to surveyed 113 members of Congress: 10 Senate Democrats, 48 House Democrats, 10 Senate Republicans, and 45 House Republicans (including Mike Rogers).

This is what the poll found: 95% of Democrats believe in man-made global warming, whereas 83% of Republicans do not believe the science behind global warming.



Well, after seven weeks, I finally received a response from Mike Rogers' office via snail mail today. It's almost two pages long, and lays out all the steps the Congressman has taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the House. As Mr. Rogers says, he is...

acutely sensitive to the delicate balance we must reach protecting our precious environment, while preserving the jobs that provide for our way of life.

Unfortunately, nowhere in the two-page letter does he use the term "global warming." Nowhere does he say how he voted in the National Journal poll (which is what I asked). And nowhere in the letter does he admit that there is a link between the warming of the Earth and man-made pollutants, such as carbon dioxide.

Now, I do appreciate that the folks at Mike Rogers' office took the time to send me this letter, and I'm willing to give the Congressman some credit for what efforts he has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (trust me, his record is better than some of his Republican colleagues).

However, as we have pointed out in the past, Rep. Rogers continues to deny the fundamental science behind global warming, has accepted numerous campaign contributions from some of the country's most notorious polluters, and consistently receives failing grades from environmental groups.

Mike Rogers closed his letter to me by saying:

Rest assured, I will work tirelessly toward this important economic, environmental and national security effort.

Unfortunately, this commitment will continue to ring hollow until Mike Rogers can bring himself to answer my initial question.