Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) will stay on the powerful Steering Committee following reports he would step down days after being physically restrained from approaching Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) during Friday night’s rowdy speaker election.
Rogers currently represents the region that includes Alabama and Tennessee on the panel that chooses members for other committees. He told Politico Monday morning that his decision was not yet final, but expected to step down later this week.
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“I have been surprised that an overwhelming number of members, both rank & file and leadership, have urged me to stay on Steering. Consequently, I plan to remain on Steering for the balance of this Congress,” he told the outlet later Monday.
The Steering Committee began deciding who will lead committees in contested races on Monday, beginning with Homeland Security. Rogers reportedly said Monday morning that he was not under any outside pressure to step down. His office did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment. Members were reportedly already jockeying to take his place on the panel.
During the raucous election for House speaker, which took 15 ballots and came to a dramatic conclusion after midnight on Saturday early morning, Rogers approached Gaetz and had to be physically held back by another member. Gaetz refused to vote for now-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on the 14th ballot that the GOP leader was expected to finally win.
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The two publicly made amends over the weekend, with Gaetz forgiving Rogers and Rogers expressing regret that he lost his temper.
.@RepMattGaetz and I have a long and productive working relationship, that I am sure will continue. I regret that I briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening and appreciate Matt’s kind understanding. https://t.co/8GmbJHO3cK
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) January 8, 2023
Committee assignments must be addressed quickly so that the 118th Congress can start work after a four-day delay caused by the drawn-out speaker election.
