McGovern Comments on D.C. Arrest

Rep. Jim McGovern talked about his time in jail with George Clooney and the importance of protesting.

Congressman Jim McGovern's (D-Worcester) arrest Friday in front of the Sudanese embassy in Washington D.C. was an expected one.  “We held a rally outside the embassy, technically on Sudanese property," said McGovern in an interview with Go Local Worcester. "We were told by police that we crossed the police line and after we finished our speeches we were given a warning and told to disperse and we didn’t disperse, so we were arrested.” This was in fact the third time McGovern had been arrested during protests in front of the Sudanese embassy, but this time it was with actor George Clooney, attracting significantly more attention than the previous incidents.  “I spent four and half hours in a cell with him. He visited Sudan several times, …

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 30

There are several upcoming political events in and around Marlborough.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. Area businessman and Marlborough Patch blogger Dean Cavaretta will be announcing his candidacy for the state senate seat currently held by democrat Jamie Eldridge (also a blogger). Look for a letter to the editor in coming days from Cavaretta explaining his decision to run. 2. Congressman Jim McGovern, author of a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision and end corporate personhood, will be a guest speaker on a panel hosted by Clark University in Worcester entitled "Corporations are not People: People's Rights, Corporate …

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 24

City, state and hospital officials gathered last week to officially begin work on the new cancer pavilion at Marlborough Hospital.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. A ground breaking for the construction of the state-of-the-art Cancer Pavilion at Marlborough Hospital was held last Thursday at the hospital. The $12.7 million center will be completed in spring 2013 and will be an expansion of the UMass Memorial Health Care Cancer Center of Excellence. Seen taking the ceremonial first shovel for the project were (l to r): John O’Brien, president and CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care; Richard Bennett, president Marlborough Savings Bank and  chair, Marlborough Hospital Board of Trustees; Steven Salomon, MD, director, Hematology/…

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Protest Over SOPA May Have Stopped Bill [POLL]

Congressman Jim McGovern opposed the internet piracy act, and so did many others. The message made its way to the House.

Congressman Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, commented on his Facebook page, "While internet piracy is an issue that should be addressed, HR 3261 (SOPA), as written is unwise, unfair, and against what I believe are fundamental rights for all Americans. I plan on voting against the current legislation, although the GOP is now indicating that they will not bring SOPA to the floor for a vote at all." Darrell Issa, congressman, echoed that the SOPA bill would not make it to the House floor for a vote, but that PIPA (Protect IP Act), remains concerning to Issa, as reported on zdnet.com. SOPA, Stop Online Piracy Act, sponsored by Texas Republican Lamar Smith, "would establish a system for taking down websites that the Justice Department determines to …

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 2

Marlborough gets a new mayor today!

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. The public is invited to join city officials to inaugurate mayor-elect Arthur Vigeant this morning Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 at the Whitcomb School's War Memorial Auditorium at 10 a.m. A reception will follow at City Hall.  2. Rain hit the Marlborough area Sunday evening and as temperatures flirt with the freezing mark, the Massachusetts State Police remind residents to always be wary of black ice. "Drivers are reminded that black ice is difficult, if not impossible to see, may occur in widespread areas or in isolated patches, and can occur when a road surface is cold, …

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 17

The High School could be in store for a big financial boost, but will face some pretty stiff competition to get it.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. Several readers are commenting on our story about Rep. Jim McGovern's proposed Congressional amendment to remove "personhood" status from U.S. corporations. Join the conversation and vote in the poll on Patch! 2. The Arts Alliance and the Assabet Valley Camera Club are holding their annual Photography Exhibit at the Citizen Bank, 17 Pope St., Hudson. Twenty two artists from eleven area communities are exhibiting their color, black and white, digital and traditional film prints. The public is invited to view the exhibit whenever the bank is open to the public; Monday…

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McGovern Seeks to Remove 'Person' Status from Companies, Limit Election Spending [POLL]

Marlborough's congressman introduced a bill Tuesday that would add a new amendment to the Constitution and overturn a Supreme Court decision made early in 2010.

Rep. James McGovern (3rd—MA) introduced a bill to Congress Tuesday seeking to overturn a recent Supreme Court ruling that has altered long-standing policies pertaining to campaign finance and freedom of speech in elections.  The 5-4 Supreme Court January 2010 (Citizens United v. FEC) decision overturned a lower court's 2008 ruling, saying that the First Amendment guarantees the rights of private businesses to spend their money as they see fit and support political candidates in a public fashion.  Proponents of the decision saw it as a win for businesses large and small, while detractors said it was just another opportunity for big business with big money to unduly influence elections.  McGovern's introduction of the “People’s Rights …

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Tsongas to Represent Marlborough in Congressional Redistricting [POLL]

Currently represented by James McGovern, the proposed plans would put Marlborough under the representation of Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.

Marlborough could soon have a new representative in the United States Congress, but not through any act of the voters. A week after Gov. Deval Patrick signed off on new state district lines, the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting released maps Monday re-drawing the state's congressional districts, which have shrunk from 10 to nine districts due to population shifts. For approval, the new districts must be adopted by the full House and Senate before Nov. 16. To view the new map (and the old map) see the images on the right. Long represented by James McGovern (3rd District) of Worcester, the proposed new district would have Marlborough join neighboring Hudson in the 5th Congressional district currently represented by Niki Tsongas.  …

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: Oct. 27

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations.

1. Today is going to be the first really chilly day of the fall season, says the National Weather Service. Expect a high of 43 degrees with strong gusting winds and a significant dose of rain (up to .75 inches). The real news, however, will come in the form of the white flakes that expected to fall from the sky late tonight. NWS is predicting a minor accumulation of snow, but it shouldn't stick around long as Friday is supposed to have a high in the upper 40s.  2. The River’s Edge Players and the Arts Alliance will present four performances Halloween weekend of Once Upon a Broomstick by Sylvia Ashby. Four performances are being held at the wheel chair accessible Hudson Town Hall auditorium, 78 Main St. on Friday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., …

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: Oct. 7

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations.

1. Today is expected to be mostly-sunny with a high of 62 degrees.  2. Yesterday in Washington, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern joined with 10 other bipartisan members of Congress at a press conference marking the 10th Anniversary of the War in Afghanistan, calling for an end to the war. “During the last ten years, our mission has changed at least ten times. What started as an effort to go after Osama bin Laden and the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks has become a seemingly endless, pointless occupation in support of a corrupt, incompetent Karzai government." 3. Follow the link to see some of the photos from Governor Deval Patrick's visit to the Whitcomb Middle School last week.  4. The Business Connections "Master Mind" series will …

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