The Congressman visited his challenger’s classroom when she was just a teacher, but will not debate her as an opponent

MURFREESBORO, TN – On Monday, October 1, just 16 days before early voting starts, Mariah Phillips will appear in a candidate forum, alone. 4-term incumbent Scott DesJarlais has declined an invitation to appear in a forum hosted by the Southern Standard newspaper.

DesJarlais has also declined an invitation from the League of Women Voters to participate in a debate at MTSU, as well as an another opportunity in his home county of Marion offered by the Marion County News.

“It is disappointing, but not surprising, that Congressman DesJarlais doesn’t want to give the voters an opportunity to hear us discuss the issues. He clearly feels more comfortable in Washington DC than he does here in Tennessee, ” said Mariah Phillips, a teacher and mother of five challenging DesJarlais for the 4th District seat.

Phillips added, “Back in 2016, Congressman DesJarlais had no problem coming to visit my classroom and taking questions from my students, so I don’t really understand why we can’t debate. He has voted to throw millions of Americans off of their insurance, remove protections for pre-existing conditions and cut Social Security and Medicare. I’d like to ask him why he took those votes and he owes it to his constituents to explain it.”

In February of 2016, Rep. DesJarlais visited Phillips class at Daniel McKee Alternative school. The visit was covered in the DNJ article seen here:

https://www.dnj.com/story/news/2016/02/22/desjarlais-sponsors-daniel-mckee-students-contest/80747716/

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MURFREESBORO, TN – As Dr. Christine Blasey Ford prepares to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mariah Phillips, a teacher and mother of five running for Congress in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District, released the following statement:

“For far too long, victims of sexual harassment and assault have been afraid to come forward. Institutions like Congress have created a culture that is predisposed to dismiss accusations and enable abusers rather than protect victims. Dr. Ford is showing tremendous courage by stepping forward to testify about her assault and I want to state clearly that I believe her. The nomination should be put on hold and there should be a full and fair FBI investigation into this case.”

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The Shelbyville native says Congress would benefit from more teachers who will focus on solving problems for Tennessee families

SHELBYVILLE, TN – Mariah Phillips is proud to announce the endorsement of Tennessee’s 5th District Congressman and Shelbyville native Jim Cooper in the 4th District race against Rep. Scott DesJarlais.

Cooper said, “Mariah is one of the hardest working candidates I’ve ever seen. Teachers understand the challenges our families and communities are dealing with and they know how to fix them.  She would be a great Member of Congress, and I’m proud to support her candidacy.”

Phillips is a first time candidate who previously taught US Government and Personal Finance in an alternative school in Murfreesboro.

“I’ve watched Congress become more and more dysfunctional over the years, but one person who has always tried to stay above the fray and focus on good policy making is Rep. Jim Cooper. I’m proud to have his endorsement and look forward to helping him break the gridlock in Washington if I’m elected,” Phillips said.

Phillips is also endorsed by former Congressman Bob Clement, the Tennessee AFL-CIO and the People’s House Project. Phillips has outraised her incumbent opponent for two consecutive quarters.

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MURFREESBORO: Critical funding used in Tennessee to fight domestic violence is at risk because of a lack of support for an historically bipartisan bill. The Violence Against Women Act, originally passed in 1994, expires at the end of September. As of today, it has no Republican cosponsors.

“It seems like there is no issue that is not partisan anymore,” said Mariah Phillips, a public school teacher and mother of five running for Congress in Tennessee’s 4th District. “This bill provides critical funding for law enforcement and domestic violence shelters that is being used very effectively in Tennessee. We can’t afford to lose it.”

According to the State of Tennessee, STOP Grants (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) created by the Violence Against Women Act fund projects in all three grand divisions and in rural, suburban and urban areas across the state.

“To me, this is exactly the problem with Washington, DC. This is good legislation that is working and it should be continued. I can’t understand why Congressman DesJarlais would not be a cosponsor of a bill with the sole purpose of helping those dealing with domestic violence and bringing abusers to justice,” added Phillips.

As of May 15, 2017, the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs reports STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grants funded the following projects:

• 3 court projects (one of which was a training grant), supporting 10 counties;

• 10 law enforcement projects (7 law enforcement officer grants and 2 law enforcement training grants and 1 hybrid officer/training grant), supporting 13 counties;

• 8 prosecutor projects and one training grant, supporting 22 counties; and

• 13 victim services projects (including 1 grant to a culturally specific project; and two training grants), supporting 48 counties.

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MURFREESBORO, TN – Today, Rep. Jim Jordan, a founder of the freedom caucus, announced he will run for Speaker of the House. Rep. Scott DesJarlais supported Jordan’s past run for Speaker. Jordan has been accused of ignoring sexual abuse accusations during his time as a coach at Ohio State, and just yesterday introduced articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. In response to this news, Mariah Phillips released the following statement:

“Jim Jordan has for years led an extremist group of lawmakers who have created much of the partisan gridlock in Washington. They have shut down our government and prevented bipartisan compromise on issues from fixing our immigration system to providing better healthcare. Scott DesJarlais has been a steadfast supporter of Jordan and his destructive approach to governing. Jim Jordan and Scott DesJarlais represent everything wrong with Washington today,” said Mariah Phillips, candidate to replace DesJarlais in TN’s 4th District.

Phillips went on to say, “Additionally, there is an alarming culture among many elected officials in Washington that tolerates sexual harassment and abuse. For far too long, victims of abuse have been afraid to come forward because the people in power enabled their abusers instead of protecting them. Rep. DesJarlais himself has a checkered history of inappropriate behavior and abuse, and he opposed the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. Rep. DesJarlais hasn’t wavered in his support for Jordan since the allegations against him surfaced, and he is clearly part of a culture that cannot continue. If you want to to change the culture of Washington, change the people you send there.”

In February, Phillips released a video on the culture of covering up  sexual harassment and abuse allegations in Washington.

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“America First Policy” Panelists should have to explain the terrible results in TN

MURFREESBORO, TN – As Rep. Scott DesJarlais  participates in a panel with Vice President Pence and other Tennessee members of Congress, Mariah Phillips, a public school teacher and candidate for the 4th Congressional District, released the following statement:

“Tennessee families in the 4th District have been dealing with the fallout from the policies Rep. DesJarlais and Vice President Pence support for years. They have seen rural communities suffer from hospitals closures, seniors on fixed incomes struggle with rising costs, veterans waiting for care because of cuts to the VA, and our young people move away for better opportunities. What they don’t see is Rep. DesJarlais in their cities in towns learning about the challenges they face. He spends most of his time with politicians in Washington while his constituents grow more and more frustrated with a Congress incapable of doing anything to improve their lives. It’s time for new leadership in Washington.”

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Phillips raised $20,000 more than the 4-term incumbent

MURFREESBORO, TN – Mariah Phillips, a public school teacher and candidate for Congress in Tennessee’s 4th District, raised over $76,000 in Q2, bringing her total fundraising to nearly $300,000. The 4-term incumbent, Scott DesJarlais, raised just over $55,000 in the same time period. In total, 1,373 people have made 2,923 individual contributions to the Phillips campaign.

“People in the 4th District are ready for a change and we’re seeing that in the level of grassroots support. As a public school teacher, I’m so grateful to everyone who has invested in this campaign, and to everyone who has volunteered,” Phillips said of her fundraising haul.

The Phillips campaign has gained momentum in recent weeks gaining high profile endorsements from the Tennessee AFL-CIO; Rachel Held Evans, a local author and former faith advisor to President Obama; and former 8-term Congressman Bob Clement.

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MURFREESBORO, TN – Today, Mariah Phillips, a public school teacher and candidate for Congress in Tennessee’s 4th District, received the endorsement of Middle Tennessee Congressman Bob Clement.

“Mariah is one of many people across the country who were inspired to step forward and run for office this year. As a public school teacher and MTSU graduate (True Blue) she knows that there is no more important priority than educating our children,” Clement said of Phillips.

Rep. Clement represented Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District for eight terms.

“As someone who served in Congress during a more functional, less divisive time, I know that Mariah is exactly the type of person who can get to work changing the culture of Washington and bringing common sense back to the Congress,” added Clement.

Phillips said of the endorsement, “It is truly an honor to have someone as accomplished as Rep. Clement supporting my campaign. He is a great example of what a public servant should be, and if elected, I hope to live up to those standards. He knows that Congress can be a functioning body that solves problems for Tennessee families, and I hope to bring that attitude to Washington.”

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Dayton, TN – Rachel Held Evans, a former faith advisor to President Obama and best selling author from Dayton, TN, endorsed Mariah Phillips in her campaign for Congress in Tennessee’s 4th District.

“The people of Tennessee’s 4th District deserve someone who will go to work for them every day and represent their interests with integrity, which is why I endorse Mariah Phillips for Congress. Watching Mariah, a schoolteacher and mother of five, travel across the district for months, learning everything she can about what’s important to its citizens, has convinced me she has what it takes to reach across the aisle and actually get something done in Washington,” Evans said.

Evans served on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and has written New York Times bestselling books focused on her faith.

“As a person of faith for whom the value of life and the protection of human rights is of utmost importance, I believe Mariah has the personal integrity it takes to address the most pressing moral issues of our time in a practical and consistent way,” added Evans.

Phillips said of Evans endorsement, “Rachel has been inspiration for many people across the 4th District through her writing and service in the Obama administration. She sets a great example for our youth of what they can accomplish if they set their sights high. I’m very proud to have her support.”

Read Evans full statement here.

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Rep. DesJarlais’ Support For Family Separation Policy Does Not Represent Tennessee Values

MURFREESBORO, TN – In response to Rep. Scott DesJarlais’ vocal support for the Trump administration’s family separation policy, Mariah Phillips, a public school teacher and candidate for Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District, released the following statement:

“As a mother of 5 children, I’m horrified at the sight of children being taken from their parents. As a teacher, I know the trauma being inflicted on these children will never go away. As a person of faith, this is not how I believe we love our neighbors. Rep. DesJarlais’ support for this policy is shameful, and does not represent the values of Tennesseans in the 4th District, regardless of their political party. We must make our voices heard in this moment and tell Congress to stand up to the administration and end this monstrous policy.”

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