LANSING — On Sep 12th, Warren City Council President Angela Rogensues, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Director of Community Engagement Derrick Jackson, and Clarkston resident Tim Pryor sounded the alarm on Mike Rogers’ role in exacerbating the opioid crisis at a press conference in Detroit.

“The City of Warren and the broader Macomb County have been disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic. My community cannot afford Mike Rogers who considers himself a champion for the drug companies. They need a champion like Congresswoman Slotkin, who will take on Big Pharma and fight for them,” said Warren City Council President Angela Rogensues.

“The opioid epidemic was a result of corporate malfeasance—fueled by drug companies and their political allies, including Mike Rogers, peddling disinformation about opioids. Michigan needs a Senator who will stand up to Big Pharma, and stand with our communities. That’s just one of many reasons I’m proud to be voting for Elissa Slotkin this November,” said Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit.

“As a police officer, I have plenty of stories of families ripped apart by addiction and know what it feels like to be the person who tells a mother their child has overdosed and is never coming home again. We must also call out those responsible like Mike Rogers for laying the framework for this epidemic,” said Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Director of Community Engagement Derrick Jackson.

“I came here on Sep 12th, to share what has sadly become a common experience in Michigan — a typical family who has seen and felt the tragedy of death and trouble caused by the opioid crisis. That’s why it’s disheartening to see how Mike Rogers spent a decade in Congress working to boost opioid prescriptions,” said Clarkston resident Tim Pryor. 

Rogers “received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the same drug companies that now are paying billions of dollars in national opioid settlements for their roles in causing the epidemic” and bragged about how “drug companies considered him ‘a champion’ of their industry.” 

Rogers launched a “decade of advocacy… to boost opioid prescriptions” that led to “the nation tumbl[ing] into a crushing epidemic it is still battling today.” As “one of Congress’ leading advocates for increased access to pain care,” Rogers’ bills and the ones he co-sponsored “did not include penalties for over-prescribing.”

See also: Bridge Michigan: Mike Rogers vows to fight drug war, but urged opioid access in Congress

Note: Contact Sam Chan at [email protected] for a recording of the press conference.