Alabama Democratic Party

Rogers ranked 151 and 138 in 2005 and 2006, respectively, but plunged to 346 last year.

Fellow Republican Congressmen Terry Everett, Jo Bonner and Roger Aderholt all ranked in the 300s this year, while Democratic Congressmen Artur Davis and Bud Cramer remained in the top 100.

U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Birmingham, also remained in the top 100, thanks to his eight terms in Congress. He is a ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee.

Each member was ranked according to their tenure in Congress, the committees they serve on, the bills they pass, their indirect influence and the earmarks they bring home, said Knowlegis CEO Brad Fitch.

"This is just another tool to provide more transparency to constituents," Fitch said of the rankings. "But we always add the big caveat that it does not represent the totality of a legislator to his or her constituents because we can't see or measure the way he or she exerts power behind the scenes."

Fitch said Alabama's mostly Republican delegation took a hit because they are no longer members of the ruling party.

"The universal truth of Washington is when you lose power you don't have the ability to exert power as you did before," he said.

While a low power ranking might seem like a political death knell, Rogers isn't too worried.

"The only rating that matters to Congressman Rogers is his ability to get things done back home for the Third District," said Shea Snider, press secretary for Rogers. "From securing $26 million on the Armed Services Committee to helping strengthen the Anniston Army Depot this past year, to securing support for our local drug task force initiatives -- Mike is working tirelessly to ensure Congress is working for all of east Alabama's interests."

Political experts in the state say that in the long run, the ability of Rogers and other members of the state delegation to bring money home might mean more to constituents than how much clout they have with Washington insiders.

For instance, Rogers' score plummeted because he's only a three-term member of Congress, he's a Republican, and he's not a national media darling.

But his positions on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Homeland Security, and his ability to earmark funds for those interests in his district keep him from being at the very bottom.

"Sometimes you can get a gap between the perceived power that member has back home and the actual power the member has inside the institution," said Jess Brown, professor of political science and justice studies at Athens State University. "If a member is very visible, personable, has good media relations, then the member is perceived back home as a great congressman; but in the internal operations, frankly he may not be a strong player at all."

Brown said Alabama has a history of having strong players in Congress who have real influence at home and in Washington because of their long tenures and appointments to powerful committees.

Most notable are the late Congressmen Tom Bevill and Bob Jones, who both were considered elder statesmen after each served 30-year terms.

With Cramer and Everett retiring at the end of this term, Alabama's power ranking could be headed a bit south.

Cramer is a 17-year member of the House, a member of the ruling party, and serves on a money committee: the House Appropriations Committee.

"We're going to take a hit there," Brown said. "I don't see in any way a freshman getting positioned that well inside the organization in the U.S. House."

Alabama political expert Bill Stewart said the rankings could be good fodder for the upcoming election cycle.

Rogers will face Montgomery Democrat Joshua Segall this year.

"If I was an opponent looking at running against an incumbent, I could say that according to this national ranking this person is not as influential, or effective," Stewart said. "It gives them some ammunition, but the member can always dispute that and I'm sure they could come up with a good rebuttal."