Tag: Scott DesJarlais

‘We Have Been Sold Out’: Tennessee U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles Slams Passage of Minibus Spending Bill

Kaitlin Housler
Andy Ogles Speaking

U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) slammed the passage of a “minibus” $1.2 trillion spending bill on Friday that would fund six of the 12 appropriations divisions for Fiscal Year 2024.

Moments before the House passed the bill by a 286-134 vote, Ogles, along with other members of the Freedom Caucus, held a press conference where he said the American people had been “sold out.”

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Tennessee Congressional Delegation Sends Letter to President Biden Urging Approval of Disaster Declaration Following Deadly Tornadoes

Kaitlin Housler

All 11 members of the Tennessee congressional delegation sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting the “swift approval” of Governor Bill Lee’s request for a major disaster declaration due to severe storms that devastated communities across Middle Tennessee over the weekend.

On December 9, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes ripped through Middle Tennessee. The storms caused six fatalities and dozens of injuries, produced significant damage to nearly 1,900 homes, and destroyed over 500 homes, according to initial reports.

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MTSU Student Newspaper’s Former Editor Says Faculty Adviser Was ‘In the Room’ When Editorial Board Drafted its Apology Letter to Placate ‘Free Palestine Crowd’

M.D. Kittle

The editorial board for the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) student newspaper issued a statement Wednesday in defense of the newspaper’s faculty adviser following the publication’s apology for running a story on an MTSU student worried about his friends in Israel.

But Matthew Giffin, the former editor-in-chief of Sidelines who wrote the profile piece, told The Tennessee Star that associate professor Stephen Leon Alligood was “in the room” when the editor’s note was crafted.

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U.S. Rep. DesJarlais Commends Former Middle Tennessee State University Student Newspaper Editor for Standing Up to Terrorists

M.D. Kittle

U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) told The Tennessee Star that today’s media needs more reporters like Matthew Giffin.

Giffin resigned his position as editor-in-chief of Sidelines, Middle Tennessee State University’s student digital newspaper, after he said the publication’s editorial board caved into pressure by anti-Israel students who opposed his story profiling a MTSU student concerned about his friends in Tel Aviv.

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Speaker Kevin McCarthy Appoints Tennessee Representative to NDAA Conference Committee

Kaitlin Housler

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) named Tennessee U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) to serve as a conferee on the House-Senate Conference Committee to resolve “bicameral differences” in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The NDAA is the primary authorization for funding the U.S. Armed Forces and Department of Defense (DoD).

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U.S. Representatives Harshbarger and DesJarlais Join GOP Doctors Caucus Letter to Pelosi and Schumer

Aaron Gulbransen

U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-1) and U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-4) signed on to a letter sent by the GOP Doctors Caucus to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer warning them of grave impact government drug price control will have on patient care in the reconciliation package.

The GOP Doctors Caucus consists of Republican members from both chambers of the United States Congress.

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Three Tennessee U.S. House Members Sign Letter Questioning Federal College Funds Tied to Chinese Government

Aaron Gulbransen

Three Tennessee members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter expressing their concern and questioning U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about federal taxpayer dollars that go to institutions of higher learning with ties to the Chinese government.

Republican Study Committee Chair Jim Banks (R-IN-03) led the letter, also signed by Tennessee U.S. House delegation members Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), and Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04).

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All Tennessee GOP Representatives Receive A+ Rating from the Pro-Life Susan B. Anthony List

Kaitlin Housler

On Wednesday, the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List released the latest ratings for its National Pro-Life Scorecard. According to the organization, the national scorecard is “a tool for holding members of Congress accountable for their legislative records on abortion and highlighting leadership in the fight to protect unborn children and their mothers.”

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Tennessee Representative Scott DesJarlais Sends Letter to President Biden Warning Him of Result of Vaccine Mandates for Tennessee Valley Authority Employees

Kaitlin Housler

On Thursday in a press release, Tennessee Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) announced that he sent a letter to President Joe Biden regarding his executive order mandating COVID-19 vaccines for federal workers and the effects it will have on Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) employees.

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Tennessee U.S. Rep. Mark Green Says Joe Biden Fears Oversight That Trump Appointees Would Give Military Advisory Board

Chris Butler

Three prominent members of Tennessee’s Republican Party on Thursday denounced U.S. President Joe Biden for demanding that appointees of former U.S. President Donald Trump resign from the U.S. Military Academy’s advisory board. U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07), an alumnus of and a member of the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors, addressed the matter in an emailed press release Wednesday.

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Tennessee’s Representatives Split on Party Lines for $2K CASH Act: Republicans Vote No, Both Democrats Vote Yes

Corinne Murdock

The U.S. House passed the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Cash (CASH Act) last evening; Tennessee’s representatives faced a partisan split on the bill. The act tacks on $1,400 to the $600 payments within the massive year-end package signed by President Trump on Sunday.

The CASH Act passed in the House with a majority of 275 to 134, and 21 abstained from voting. One of the representatives who abstained their vote was Representative David (Phil) Roe (R-TN-01). Of all House Republicans, 44 voted for the act, and 130 voted against it.

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Tennessee Congressman Suggests ‘Legislative Fix’ to Reform Elections

Chris Butler

U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) said this week that Congress might need to step in to reform America’s election system.

DesJarlais said this on his Facebook page Thursday as officials in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona continue to count votes for Tuesday’s presidential election. U.S. President Donald Trump alleges voter fraud took place in those swing states.

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Scott DesJarlais’ Chief of Staff Explains Congressman’s Vote on Bill That Gun Owners of America Denounced

Chris Butler

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) said the congressman is solidly pro-gun despite voting for a proposed law that Gun Owners of America said would confiscate guns from members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

As The Tennessee Star reported Saturday, members of the Democratic-majority U.S. House of Representatives passed that bill, H.R. 6395, late last month. The vote was 295 to 125, according to the House website, with 108 Republicans saying yes to it — with three of them, including DesJarlais, representing Tennessee.

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Three Tennessee Republican Congressmen Vote Yes to Bill That Gun Owners of America Flags as Dangerous

Chris Butler

Three Tennessee Republican congressmen voted yes on a bill last month that the Gun Owners of America call a “Red Flag” that would permit the government to confiscate guns from members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Members of the Democratic-majority U.S. House of Representatives passed that bill, H.R. 6395, late last month, at a vote of 295 to 125, according to the House website.

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TN Congressman Scott DesJarlais: While Important Legislation is Neglected, Democrats Focus on Impeachment

Julie Carr

  Live from music row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – Leahy was joined on the newsmakers line by Representative Scott DesJarlais about the Soviet-style impeachment led by Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff. During the show, DesJarlais made it clear that the goal post by Democrats continues to shift due to inter-party confusion potentially as a result of Republican agreement to allow a quick process. He also admitted concern for more important legislation that is being neglected at the expense of Americans, Mexico and Canada because the Democrats fear a win for the President. He stated, ‘I know the Democrats would vote for it. I know the people that are pushing it out there. They just don’t want Trump to get that win. they’d rather see America fail than Trump succeed. It’s hurting our farmers. It’s hurting our businesses. It hurts Canada. It hurts Mexico. Purely political and that’s a sham. We’ve got legislation to lower prescription drug prices. We’ve got to secure the border.’ Leahy: We are joined now by Representative Scott DesJarlais who represents the 4th congressional district in Congress.…

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Scott DesJarlais: ‘Radical Element’ Behind Impeachment Inquiry

Chris Butler

  Members of Tennessee’s Congressional delegation were quick to opine Tuesday on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s impeachment inquiry of U.S. Republican President Donald Trump. Democrats endorsed the impeachment inquiry, while Republicans vowed to support the president. Scott DesJarlais, a Republican representing Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District, sent out a press release Tuesday saying this is not what the American people want. “Before and after last year’s midterm elections, a few of us predicted Democrat leadership would fall prey to their most strident members and move to impeach President Trump.  Sadly, having accomplished nothing but fruitless investigations in this Congress, Speaker Pelosi has allowed this radical element to dictate another partisan investigation,” DesJarlais said. “An overwhelming majority of the American public rejects impeachment. However, some individuals, who still cannot accept that their candidate lost the 2016 presidential election, are pursuing a purely political agenda. Congress must reject it.” Meanwhile, Steve Cohen, a Democrat who represents Tennessee’s Ninth Congressional District, had a different mindset. “Today is a historic day for our nation. The President has breached his oath, violated the law and risked our national security. This week we learned that the President has abused his power and broken the law by pressuring a foreign government…

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Scott DesJarlais Votes Against Budget Bill

Chris Butler

  U.S. Republican Congressman Scott DesJarlais, representing Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District, this week rejected the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 and voted against the bill, according to a press release. In a statement, DesJarlais said the following: “The federal government’s first responsibility is national defense. The bill continues our country’s rebuilding of the military under President Trump, but like past agreements to lift budget caps, which successfully reduced federal spending levels, it incorporates the misguided notion that discretionary domestic spending must also rise. Since fiscal conservatives forced caps on reckless spending, Congress has found clever ways to avoid the restrictions.” “In similar fashion, this deal grows deficits and debt. In this strong economy, because of tax cuts, now is the time to create a surplus and return more income to the American taxpayer,” he continued. “Cutting spending, and reforming wasteful government programs, would continue our economic progress. Deficits and debt are the biggest threat.” As The Tennessee Star reported this week, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, a Republican congressman representing Tennessee’s Seventh Congressional District, weighed in on reports about a spending deal between the White House and Congressional leaders. In a press release, Green made an analogy to which almost every…

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Republican Scott DesJarlais Votes Against American Dream and Promise Act

Chris Butler

  U.S. Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District voted against the American Dream and Promise Act Tuesday. If passed into law, it would grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. Most members in the Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the bill. DesJarlais said the following, in an emailed statement: “Already this week, the House passed a disaster aid bill without a single dime to alleviate the disaster at the border. Today, Nancy Pelosi and her caucus passed a bill providing amnesty and a path to citizenship, as well as Medicaid, food stamps, and other welfare benefits, to millions of illegal aliens, but no resources to prevent more than a hundred thousand from crossing the southern border every month. It would encourage legal aliens to break the law, to receive the same preferential treatment, and reward repeat criminals, including gang members,” DesJarlais wrote in a press release. “Bad laws like this are fueling the border crisis, reaching far into the U.S. Fortunately, despite misleading media coverage, Americans are beginning to understand the problem and effective solutions. We need to build a wall and end legal loopholes drawing enormous migrant caravans. Open borders are destructive.” According to…

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Scott DesJarlais and Julia Brownley Re-Launch Congressional Range and Testing Center Caucus

Chris Butler

U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a Republican representing Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District, announced Friday he will co-chair a new forum to educate his colleagues in Congress about military issues. The forum, DesJarlais said in a press release, is the Congressional Range and Testing Center Caucus. DesJarlais will co-chair alongside U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, a Democrat representing California’s 26th Congressional District DesJarlais and Brownley represent large military communities in their districts. The forum is designed to educate members of Congress about Department of Defense range and testing facilities, such as Naval Base Ventura County in California and Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee. DesJarlais and Brownley released joint statements about their common agenda in the current 116th Congress. “Tennessee’s Fourth District lies at the heart of the Aerospace and Defense Technology Corridor spanning several states. It includes public and private enterprises developing cutting-edge technology to protect our country: unmanned aircraft, hypersonic flight and more,” DesJarlais said. “These facilities, such as Arnold Air Force Base, University of Tennessee’s Space Institute and Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, are crucial defense assets and economic resources, reliant on a high-skilled workforce. Congresswoman Brownley and I are helping to generate more public understanding and support for their work.” For…

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U.S. Rep. John Rose Says He Supports the Donald Trump National Emergency

Chris Butler

U.S. Rep. John Rose, the Republican representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District, announced Wednesday he supports declaring a national emergency to build a border wall. U.S. Republican President Donald Trump declared the emergency. In a press release, Rose said he voted to support Trump in fully funding a wall along the United States’ unsecured Southern border. “I stand with the President’s decision to declare a national emergency to end the threats coming into our country through the open border,” the press release quoted Rose as saying. “This decision is within the President’s lawful purview and past presidents freely exercised this authority.” Rose went on to say the president alone has authority to declare a national emergency at his discretion. There were 31 national emergencies in effect prior to Trump declaring a national emergency to address the crisis at our southern border. Of those still in effect, former Democratic President Barack Obama declared 10 of them, according to Rose’s press release. “Sadly, Democrats have continued political stunts and recklessly neglected the crisis at our southern border. Democrats only now call foul on a president’s use of emergency declaration power, apparently putting their hostility toward President Trump above the needs of the American…

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Scott DesJarlais Comes Out in Support of Donald Trump Actions on U.S.-Mexico Border

Chris Butler

U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District issued a statement this week in support of President Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. There, DesJarlais said in a press release, international cartels smuggle drugs and human beings into the United States, and large numbers foreign nationals are illegally crossing into the country.  “Sophisticated international cartels, some of the most dangerous criminal and terrorist organizations in the world, are operating just across the border from the United States in Mexico. They partner with foreign adversaries, including Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and China, and smuggle drugs as well as human beings into our neighborhoods, including in my home state of Tennessee,” DesJarlais said. “Constituents in my district are suffering from the opioid epidemic. Mexican cartels produce or distribute most heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine here, killing tens of thousands of Americans every year, not including victims of MS-13 and other violent gangs, which have infiltrated recent migrant caravans. However, the equivalent of a migrant caravan enters our country almost weekly. These forces are destabilizing and deadly to people on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, but particularly for the less fortunate among us. While wealthy elites erect walls for…

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Scott DesJarlais Introduces Bill to Fund Defense, Reduce Non-Essential Federal Spending

Chris Butler

Various national security departments would stay open during a government shutdown under new legislation that U.S. Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee’s Fourth Congressional District submitted this week. The Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs are among the agencies that would continue to receive funding. This, according to a press release DesJarlais’ office released this week. But, as Desjarlais’ spokesman Brendan Thomas told The Tennessee Star in an emailed statement, Congress must pass the bill first. “As things currently stand, a government shutdown would disrupt funding for DHS, responsible for elements of national security. Under Rep. DesJarlais’ bill that would never happen,” Thomas said. “Instead of zero, DHS would receive 100 percent of its current funding. It could continue normal operations. But some agencies would receive only 95 percent of funding.” The press release quoted DesJarlais as saying he supports “building additional physical barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border to deter illegal immigration, drugs and gang crime.” His legislation would pressure negotiators to fulfill promises both parties have made for decades, according to the press release. “Bad deals to end shutdowns have typically resulted in even higher levels of wasteful spending, while the border problem has become worse and worse. In Washington,…

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