Chip Rogers: ‘I’ll be reporting directly to Teya Ryan’
A state lawmaker needs a quick exit from the Legislature, and a position at Georgia Public Broadcasting appears. Life can be magical that way.
We have excerpts from an interview with Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers below, but here’s the official press release from GPB:
Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB Media) announced today that it is creating a new programming initiative designed to facilitate coverage of economic development and jobs in Georgia. GPB will use its statewide reach and multiple platforms to create programming that will aggregate job opportunities, job growth areas and career counseling.
State Sen. Chip Rogers of Woodstock has announced that he is resigning his Senate seat to accept a position at GPB spearheading this initiative beginning with a statewide weekly radio program examining current economic development trends and highlighting companies that are growing and creating jobs.
“GPB has a long history of serving Georgians with programming that is relevant to career and consumer issues, said Nancy Zintak, Vice President of Marketing and Communications of GPB. “We have long-wanted to create a forum for our communities to learn about jobs in Georgia and areas of growth around the state.”
The initiative will begin in January of 2013, and the radio program will debut in spring of 2013.
“I am honored by this incredible opportunity,” Rogers said. “Much of my career has been spent in broadcasting and helping my constituents. This melds both my passions. I look forward to creating programming on GPB that will move our great state of Georgia forward by helping connect Georgians to jobs.”
Rogers will be stepping down from the Georgia General Assembly on December 5, where he has served since 2002. Rogers and his wife, Amy, have four children and reside in Woodstock, Georgia.
An innovative programing concept here — bring some jobs, and we’ll build a TV package around you.
The AJC and Channel 2 Action News were shut out of any exit interviews with Rogers, presumably because of past reports on Rogers’ odds-making activities and his recent invitation to Republican senators to attend an all-day seminar on Agenda 21.
Here, in fact, is raw video of Rogers’ escape from WSB-TV’s Lori Geary and videographer Tracy Reeves:
But Sandra Parrish with AM750 and 95.5FM NewsTalk/WSB was kind enough to share the audio of her session with Rogers, and we’ve excerpted a few portions:
Rogers gave this description of his job, to which no salary has been publicly attached:
”I’ll be reporting directly to Director [Teya] Ryan. I’ll be working with her. One aspect of it will be global within the organization. But [I’ll] really be focusing a lot on a new project that we’re going to try to bring, and tell the story of Georgia business and Georgia businesses – combined with education, and how we can bring those together.
“When you get out and talk to a lot of employers, many of them will say, ‘Look, my biggest challenge is, I need a workforce that can adapt to what we’re doing. And the pace of change in Georgia’s economy, and the pace of change in Georgia’s education system are completely different. They’re going at two different speeds.
“We’re hoping that this project – and it’s still in its infancy – is going to bring those together….’
Parrish asked if this were a new position within GPB:
”This entire program – it’s going to be radio, television and online – is all going to be new, yeah….I’ll begin in January.”
What made you make this decision to get out of politics? Parrish asked.
”I have to thank the governor — he is a big fan of what GPB is doing – for having the vision, along with Director Ryan, of what we’re missing and what can be done, and bringing this opportunity to me. So it was a combination of an opportunity that I never dreamed would exist, with a point in life where you recognize that some of the responsibilities that you’ve taken on for yourself begin to conflict with others that are of higher priority.
“…When I first got elected I had a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old, and never understood what it meant to have a 13-year-old and a 12-year-old, and then add on top of that a 9-year-old and a 7-year-old. I found myself realizing that the greatest joys in life – I was missing some of them….
“It just so happened that this opportunity was made available at the same time, and it just sort of worked out. I’m very content with it. I’m very happy with it.”
Parrish: Is that why you didn’t run for majority leader?
”I had already committed to just about everybody that if I served as majority leader that it would only be for one more term. I had accomplished most of the legislative things that I had wanted to accomplish. These positions are not permanent….
Rogers noted his background in and love for broadcasting. “I assume that’s why they approach me about it,” he said. Parrish then asked Rogers about the Senate majority leader’s involvement in the 2010 move to strip Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle of his powers:
”I think it was the right thing to do, and I think it remains the right thing to do. And I hope that people look at it from the perspective of not me or any other individual, but how should the Senate arrange its affairs….
“We have problems when we look at these things as one individual against another. And that’s how, unfortunately, it kind of got played out. It’s never been me against anybody personally. I just hope the Senate going forward has that same wisdom and maintains the control of the Senate in that body.”
Parrish asked Rogers about his sponsorship of a meeting on Agenda 21, the theory that state and local planning entities are acting in concert with a United Nations plan to deprive Americans of their property rights:
”I haven’t answered too many media questions on this, because when I first heard that there were questions about it, I just shook my head….I’ve never had an issue like this before, because I just don’t understand the so-called controversy around it.
“The constituents who came to me had presented that same presentation in this Capitol on a number of occasions to a number of different groups. They try to present it to anyone who will listen.
“It wasn’t my presentation. It was simply fulfilling a request by a group of constituents….I think sometimes people get caught up in attacking the messenger, and in this case, I wasn’t even the messenger.”
Parrish: Do you disagree with Agenda 21 conspiracy theory?
”Look, the Agenda 21 issue – it is an item that was passed by the United Nations back in the Bill Clinton years. Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are all in favor of it. The Republican National [Convention] passed a resolution saying Republicans are against it. As a Republican, I would be against it. So I’ll just leave it at that.”
Just an FYI: Agenda 21 was approved at the “Earth Summit” held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, during the presidency of George H.W. Bush.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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94 comments Add your comment
Anyone But Chip
December 4th, 2012
7:16 pm
Personally, I think we should all throw our support behind GPB for “Jumping on the Grenade” and saving us from the Chipster.
Georgia Voter
December 4th, 2012
7:25 pm
Please don’t stop giving to GPB! First of all, I’m sure they are not thrilled to have Chip there. Secondly, it would not surprise me if Chip “Privatize everything!” Rogers would be thrilled to see donations decrease. He only took this job because there were not any other offers, and he needed a face-saving way to leave the Senate. He was networking at the big ALEC meeting in DC last week, but I think he may be too tainted for even slimy ALEC members to touch.
clem
December 4th, 2012
7:40 pm
did anyone see the job opening at gpb?
Ed Johnson
December 4th, 2012
8:06 pm
This revealing statement by State Sen. Chip Rogers to me via e-mail…
“Competition is at the heart of almost every advancement in human existence. To suggest it doesn’t work in education ignores both reality and human nature.”
My reply to Sen. Rogers…
Now it’s clear, I do believe. Misunderstanding and misapplying 19th century Darwinian Theory in a 21st century world. “Survival of the fittest!” remains the indoctrination to justify all manner of wasteful and destructive behaviors so as to blame “human nature.” Thanks for this enlightenment.
Kris
December 4th, 2012
8:12 pm
The Snark “”Why do Republicans hate Big Bird and Elmo?””
Could it be Big Bird and Elmo’s vastly superior intelligent, over the GOP. Ask smitty what happens when you threaten Big Bird.
Auntie Christ
December 4th, 2012
9:14 pm
“When you get out and talk to a lot of employers, many of them will say, ‘Look, my biggest challenge is, I need a workforce that can adapt to what we’re doing. And the pace of change in Georgia’s economy, and the pace of change in Georgia’s education system are completely different. They’re going at two different speeds.”
gosh chip, I wonder how that could be happening, since you, purdue deal and other republican “leaders” have provided the students of GA. with such diligent oversight of education. I certainly look forward to your commentary on why GA’s education system is not keeping pace, and see how you will spin the decline of education in this state over the last several years, given the following has transpired on your watch:
ga’s education budget, for the last 4 years:
FY 2009: $8.20 billion.
FY 2010: $6.59 billion.
FY 2011: $7.07 billion.
FY 2012: $6.97 billion.
FY 2013: $7.17 billion.
Georgia school districts report that classrooms are more crowded than ever and students are spending fewer days in school due to substantial cuts in state funding. These developments do not encourage effective teaching or learning, and may undermine learning and limit success in school for the state’s growing number of disadvantaged students.
Georgia’s Pre-Kindergarten program will serve 2,000 fewer children in 2012 Class sizes have grown, the school year has been shortened and Pre-K centers have less money to work with.
And as the AJC reported recently, GA’s dropout rate now exceeds Mississippi’s. (what are we going to do for a new motto, since we can no longer state ‘thank god for Mississippi?)
Indeed, our Mr (chip) rogers neighborhood will be a ghetto if the republicans continue their ’stewardship’ of our state and it’s education system.
Midnight garden
December 4th, 2012
9:23 pm
I can’t wait to hear the real reason he was basically ousted from the senate. No one gives up power that easily and then takes a made up govt job. It’s a sad state of affairs that he was reelected in the first place and I am thrilled he is gone. Anyone who buys into that agenda 21 nonsense is delusional. Now who will run for his seat Jim?
Christopher Mitchell (Another Government Employee)
December 4th, 2012
10:15 pm
Uh huh.
He leaves before the session to a Brother In Law position.
Cue indictment in 3…2…1…
anthony
December 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
The people of Cherokee County kept re-electing this clown, which says something about their judgement and intelligence. Sadly, the legislature is full of guys just like him, which says something about the GA electorate as a whole. Rogers is a crook, and now we may find out he’s something else as well.
Scott
December 4th, 2012
11:02 pm
GPB is a state agency, complete with a board appointed directly by the governor of GA. I am sure Rogers’ job was a gift from Nathan Deal… and I am sure GPB had no choice in the matter, just I like they have no choice on their Executive Director, also appointed by the governor.
I urge everyone to continue supporting GPB’s programming on both their TV and Radio broadcasts. The money for Rogers’ salary would come from the foundation, while the money for programming comes directly from member support!
Melvin
December 4th, 2012
11:05 pm
Why did Georgia two US Senators vote against the UN Treaty on Disabilities? Many of our returning veterans are disabled due to their service to this country. MOST Veterans organizations supported this treaty. Now, our two US Senators show their support by voting against this treaty. Thsi is the second time, at least, that they voted against the interest and not in support of veterans interest. Remember their vote on the
Veterans Jobs Act.
jaypat
December 5th, 2012
1:04 am
Well, that does it. I am forever done with the concept of “public broadcasting” because this move proves, to me at least, that it has become like all the other state news agencies that operate in the rest of the world. There’s nothing remotely “independent” about it.
During the 1970’s and through the 1990’s I was an avid shortwave radio listener. That’s because I’m a news junkie, and after comparine the accounts of many events, and then judging what was later determined to be “reality”, one develops a finely-tuned ear for bullsh*t. This move reeks of it.
Silent Jay
December 5th, 2012
2:27 am
Don’t worry, Nancy. There’s not enough lipstick to put on this pig.
Buckhead Boy
December 5th, 2012
4:25 am
I just could be that Rogers looked at his age and the age of the most reliable Republican voters, and deduced that he wasn’t in a growth industry.
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[...] combining Georgia businesses with public education. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that among Rogers’ new duties will be hosting a weekly radio show on economic [...]
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[...] combining Georgia businesses with public education. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that among Rogers’ new duties will be hosting a weekly radio show on economic [...]
Sparta_Bubba
December 5th, 2012
6:41 am
Could it be dead girl, live boy, backyard animal all in the 2nd trailer on the left as you go into the trailer park?
I will be deducting a “Chip Rogers Fee” from any future GB contributions.
South Georgia Retiree
December 5th, 2012
7:05 am
There are so many questions about this appointment that I’m just totally perplexed. Is the Governor sending his minion to destroy GPTV and then go to the next dirty assignment? After all the stories of Rogers’ checkered past, he needs to go home and redeem himself by getting a real job. It’s just incredible what the Gov will do for his pals!
rj
December 5th, 2012
7:07 am
why didn’t someone have this vision before the election? Why does a “key” player get provided a position to leave the Senate? His words and facial expressions seem to mask a troubled interior so why the sudden departure? It would wait until the session is over?
Gregory Johnson
December 5th, 2012
7:26 am
Another republican’t runs out the side door because he can’t take the heat. Good riddance, scum. And by the way GPB will never get another donation from me.
hiram
December 5th, 2012
7:57 am
@gregory
That makes two of us who will never give another dime to GPB. Given that the majority of the donors are most likely Democrats, there should be a free fall in their stock, and rightly so. Why would they tarnish their good name, by associating themselves with this right wing con artist? I wonder if they’re going to create a job for Graves too?
honested
December 5th, 2012
8:05 am
So was this part of a deal to avoid an indictment, or to allow time to properly prepare a defense without the bother of doing the job to which he was elected?
Inquiring minds would like to know.
Rabbit
December 5th, 2012
8:28 am
Add to the misery, teachers are still getting furlough days and the systems, in order to keep the class time from falling, have increased the length of the school day. So for teachers, same hours in the workplace, less pay.
When the economy was tanking, teachers grumbled but were willing to share the sacrifice. Now, seeing how the state is choosing to underfund education, morale is low.
Sure, we’ll hear from those who say “let them complain” but I for one want to live in a smart Georgia not an undereducated state of rubes who will continue to vote against their best interest.
yuzeyurbrane
December 5th, 2012
8:37 am
This story isn’t over. Very interesting that Deal was involved in job placement. Kind of smoothed the path for Rogers’ exit. Nice to have Ga. Pub. Broadcasting around as a plum to hand out. What else at PBS does Deal get personally involved in? GOP is against PBS except when they are for it. . . as when they need a propaganda outlet and pork to hand out. PBS will end up regretting getting ensnarled in the corruption. As to why Rogers has basically been given the bum’s rush with the tiniest of fig leaves, it will be interesting as the story unfolds. AJC, time for some old-fashioned investigative journalism.
Whirled Peas
December 5th, 2012
8:49 am
It is time for the government to stop raiding the bank accounts of we the people in order to fund a government television network. Take the PBS money and re-direct it to the post office to keep it running for a while longer.
jconservative
December 5th, 2012
9:13 am
“When you get out and talk to a lot of employers, many of them will say, ‘Look, my biggest challenge is, I need a workforce that can adapt to what we’re doing. And the pace of change in Georgia’s economy, and the pace of change in Georgia’s education system are completely different. They’re going at two different speeds.”
So let’s continue to cut funding for education. Employers do not need employees capable of handling the new technology. (Are you listening Governor?)
R U Kidding Me?
December 5th, 2012
9:14 am
This is Good Ole Boy Politics at it’s sleaziest. Chip Rogers’ whacko political agenda finally cost him the support of his own Senate Caucus. After David Schaffer beat Bill Cowsart 25-10, the Rogers’ tin foil hat crowd saw the handwriting on the wall and he withdrew his name from conisderation rather than take a humiliating defeat at the hands of his own caucus.
So after you are publicaly rejected by your own party, what’s a Senator to do?You call fellow ethically challenged Republican Nathan Deal and ask for an soft place to land. Magically, a job is created at GPTV and you drag out the old “I want to spend more time with my family” excuse. I guess Chip forgot he had kids just a month ago when he was running for re-election.It is exactly this type of garbage that makes people distrust their government and it is the reason the the GOP’s hold on state government has a dwindling shelf life. Perdue, Deal, Rogers, Graves are more corrupt than the Democrats ever were.
Shar
December 5th, 2012
9:20 am
This is not PBS’ fault. Deal just used them as a conduit to pay off Chip Rogers in return for getting him out of the Legislature. Rogers is ALEC-tainted, Agenda-21-crazy garbage and probably soon to be indicted for his bank loan default and I’m sure that Deal was hoping he would be defeated. When he was re-elected, the Governor first had his own lieutenants tell him that his leadership days were over and, when Rogers still didn’t take the hint, created a Deal to use taxpayer money to get rid of him. Rogers won’t stay at PBS long. Unless he goes to jail (which is where he belongs), he will be snapped up by some bottom-feeding lobbying group. The sooner the better – lowlife scum deserve each other, PBS deserves to create and broadcast programming that people other than Chip Roger’s immediate family might want to watch and taxpayers deserve to be freed from the burden of covering for the GOP’s mistakes.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
9:22 am
Spend more time with his family?
Bert and Ernie don’t have any room in that bathtub for Chip.
Wide Awake
December 5th, 2012
9:25 am
Jim Galloway………..I hope you’re very happy that you have now contributed to the resignation of Chip Rogers. By the way, did you ever educate yourself on Agenda 21. If not, you really should make that a top priority for 2013, as your rights and country’s sovereignty are being taken away from you by the U.N. and our elected officials who have either knowingly or unwittingly signed on to Sustainable Development / Smart Growth and any of the other innocuous names they choose to give it.
In the know
December 5th, 2012
9:40 am
Good riddance. I didn’t even read the interview with him today in the MDJ because you can’t believe anything he says. We are all better off with him gone. This job at GPB is NOT a better job, just a token mid-level position. I suppose he should be grateful he’s not in jail.
In the know
December 5th, 2012
9:42 am
To Shar, well said.
Don Coyote
December 5th, 2012
9:45 am
What will happen to the contents of his massive “campaign” funds?
WillinRoswell
December 5th, 2012
9:48 am
I hope he brings back Woody Willow.
Auntie Christ
December 5th, 2012
9:49 am
Wide Awake
December 5th, 2012
9:25 am
Do us a favor, go back to sleep.
Look before I leap...
December 5th, 2012
9:49 am
After reading Wide Awake’s post, I have come up with a new term:
Intellectual Zombieism
“They’re coming to get you Barbara!”
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curious
December 5th, 2012
10:52 am
Wide Awake
He stays that way because those black helicopters are out there.
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Georgia Voter
December 5th, 2012
12:13 pm
Please don’t blame Georgia Public Broadcasting! This is not their fault. I can’t imagine them being happy to have the enemy of all things public thrust upon them. Chip is going to have a hard time finding people at GPB to even talk to him. When I first heard about the GBP offer, I honestly thought that Governor Deal was showing a sense of humor. This is probably more punishment for MicroChip than reward.
catlady
December 5th, 2012
3:06 pm
I don’t blame GPB but I am not giving them another cent. (perhaps that is the plan, to bankrupt GPB) However, better to starve it than to support this shyster.
Wake up, you sheep! You continue to be led by the nose by these “leaders” of immoral character.
catlady
December 5th, 2012
3:08 pm
Anyone want to enter a pool about how long it will be before the real reason is known? I say less than 2 weeks.
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