June 2010 Issue

Born in Worcester and first elected in 1996, James McGovern is now serving his seventh term as Representative of Massachusetts’s Third Congressional District. He is the Vice Chair of the House Rules Committee which sets terms for debate and amendments on legislation, and a member of the House Budget Committee which enabled him to secure millions of dollars for Central and Southeastern MA. In addition, McGovern is co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee and the House Hunger Caucus – two issues that have long been priorities to him.

In his term he has been devoted to local and regional projects, small businesses, public safety, regional and mass transportation projects, and affordable housing. Under his leadership, McGovern has delivered millions of dollars for these issues. Specifically he has successfully saved Worcester and Fall River police jobs, brought $2.8 million to transit authorities in greater Attleboro and Southeastern MA for new buses and repairs, and brought $1 million to Medway and Ashland for traffic improvements.

As Congressman he has passed important legislation which increased Pell grant funding and allowed more students to have access to higher education. He also gave tax credits to employers who paid the salaries of those employees serving in the National Guard or the Reserves. Having long been a promoter of healthcare reform, McGovern worked to passed legislature, which decreased the cost of healthcare and increased the opportunities for elderly and terminally ill patients to be cared for in their homes.

McGovern has taken a prominent role in addressing hunger, both domestically and nationally, in the House. He expanded the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and the Child Nutrition Program. This bill, aiming to decrease child hunger and poverty rates, promotes nutritious school means in the world’s poorest countries.

Prior to being elected to Congress, McGovern worked as a senior aide to the late US Representative John Joseph Moakley (D- South Boston). McGovern attended American University where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Masters degree. He is married and has two children.

Make sure to check out his campaign website and get involved today to make sure McGovern gets re-elected in the Third District!

Representative McGovern has also been a long-time friend and supporter of the College Democrats of Massachusetts. Check out this YouTube video the Congressman recorded for us last spring when we collaborated on actions to try to stop the genocide in Darfur:

-Sophie Mettler-Grove, CDM Campaigns Director

mettlers@macollegedems.org

Ed Markey has represented the 7^th Congressional District of Massachusetts, where he was born and raised, since 1976. In his 34 years, Markey has lbeen an important voice for working families, consumers, and environment protection.

Markey has long worked to improve fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles, to protect the planet from climate change and to reduce our dependence on oil.

His 1981 book, Nuclear Peril, served as a monumental early warning on the dangers of mass destruction and the problems with rogue states gaining access to nuclear weapons. In Congress, Markey has been a pivotal leader in the opposition of nuclear proliferation and is the founder and co-chair of the Non-Proliferation Task Force. It has long been his view that renewable energy from the wind and sun provide the greatest opportunity for economic growth and environmental protection.

In 2007 he passed the first congressional increase in fuel economy standards in 32 years. This rose the fuel economic standards from 25 to 35 miles-per-gallon and helped to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

In June 2009, due to Markey’s leadership, the House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act. This bill will reduce global warming pollution by over 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050. The groundbreaking bill will also work to change our energy system and to create a clean, secure economy that will generate millions of new jobs with the development of energy efficient, renewable technology.

Recently, Markey has helped to place tremendous pressure on BP to be more upfront and transparent about the spill’s enormity and about their clean-up agenda. On June 14^th, Markey and Capps (D-CA) sent a letter to BP’s CEO asking for specific data and documents relating to the environmental and public health effects of the Gulf Coast oil spill. Markey and Capps requested more specific information on the health of cleanup workers, data on air and water quality, composition of the oil leaking from the riser pipe, and the ingredients that comprise the drilling mud used in BP’s failed “top kill” procedure.

He serves as the Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and is a senior member of the Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources Committees and is Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

In addition to being a truly dedicated and active environmentalist, Markey is a promoter of small-business, education and children’s issues, and consumer protection. He recently extended unemployment benefits and expanded legislation for job creation and in November 2009 Markey and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced the launch of the Science Works for US program.

Markey was born in Malden, MA and lives with his wife, Susan Blumenthal, a physical and public health expert. In the September 14^th primary for MA’s 7^th district, Markey’s opponent is Republican, Gerry Dembrowski, a primary health provider.

Interested in getting involved in Markey’s re-election campaign? Get involved!

• Go to http://www.edmarkey.org and sign up for Markey’s newsletter to stay abreast of his work and campaign news.
• Follow Ed Markey on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ed-Markey-Committee/474104770286?ref=ts and on Twitter: @EdMarkeyComm.

-Sophie Mettler-Grove, CDM Campaigns Director

Alana Eichner, Smith Democrats Campaigns Coordinator, blogs about her experience as a delegate at the Democratic State Convention. Originally posted in That Damn Liberal, the Smith Dems blog.

This past weekend, June 4^th – 5^th, the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention took place in Worcester. Friday night of the convention is reserved for nomination of uncontested elections and, most importantly, Democratic socializing and schmoozing. Many of the major candidates running for election in the fall held parties in the Worcester area, including one party co-hosted by the Young Democrats of Massachusetts and the Worcester County Young Dems.

When I walked into the DCU center in Worcester Saturday morning I didn’t know quite what to expect, as I had never been to one of these conventions before. The cars dotted with excessive numbers of bumper stickers in support of Democratic candidates tipped me off that this was going to be a wonderfully progressive, and wonderfully lively, crowd.

The area outside of the convention hall was filled with tables for Democratic candidates, causes and groups from throughout the state. Inside, delegates sat by state senate district, and I always appreciate a chance to spend time with the always entertaining, never dull Democrats of the great city of Somerville. It was fun to be in such an energetic environment, and be with a large group of people who share, and are ready to fight for, many of the same goals and ideas that I am passionate about.

Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, both facing no Democratic challengers in their bids for re-election this fall, gave passionate and inspiring speeches at the convention, highlighting the positive changes

they’ve brought to the commonwealth in the past four years. Among many notable achievements, Patrick noted that their administration has executed universal healthcare in MA so that 97% of MA residents now have health insurance and the fact that MA is ahead of most other states financially in dealing with the global market collapse. Patrick stressed that he is going to need all of our help to get re-elected in the fall. There were many volunteers with the Patrick-Murray campaign, sporting t-shirts with the logo ‘Got 50?’ to emphasize the campaign’s strategy of recruiting organizers in every precinct in the state to talk to 50 of their friends about voting for Deval Patrick and Tim Murray. The latest polls have Governor Patrick leading his two challengers, Charlie Baker, a Republican, and Charlie Baker, an independent.

The two contested races at this convention for were state treasurer and state auditor. Each candidate had the chance to show a short video and give a speech, before voice votes were taken within each senate district.

Steve Grossman took home 84% of the delegate vote for treasurer, gaining the party’s nomination. The race for state auditor, between Suzanne Bump, Mike Lake, and Guy Glodis, resulted in Bump with about 37% of the vote, Glodis with about 37% of the vote, trailing Bump by only a few votes, and Lake with about a quarter of the votes. All three will appear on the primary ballot but none will have the official Democratic party endorsement. The primary to determine which will be the Democratic nominee is on September 14.

Get fired up Dems because we are going to be working very hard in the fall to keep strong Democratic leaders in office throughout Massachusetts!

Therese Murray was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate, representing Plymoth and Barnstable, in 1992. From 2003 to 2007 she chaired the Senate Ways and Means Committee. In March 2007 she was elected to be the first female Senate President in MA history.

As Senate President, Murray’s objective is to ensure that the Commonwealth works as efficiently and effective as possible. Throughout her Presidential term she has worked tirelessly to support the rights of children and veterans, to advance new technology in health care, energy, ethics, transportation, and ethics as well as to promote affordable housing in MA.

In working to improve businesses in MA she authorized legislation to re-structure economic development in the state. By streamlining competing and public agencies and authorities she has worked towards her goal of making businesses throughout MA more effective and cohesive.

Murray was one of the key implementers of the MA Health Care Reform law, which expanded health care to 98 percent of MA residents. Murray authorized the second phase of health care, which improved access and decreased costs for residents. Due to Murray’s work the commonwealth has been receiving millions of money in Federal Recovery Act money.

Murray pioneered the efforts to make the Commonwealth’s transportation system more efficient and to eliminate redundancies. Her work also saved MA taxpayer money. The law eliminated the Turnpike Authority and consolidated multiple transportation agencies into a single, new and independent authority. This will save $6.5 billion over 20 years.

A firm believer that overall well-being involves mental health as well as physical, Murray fought to pass the Mental Health Parity Act as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Insurance. This law enables MA residents to have physical and mental health needs covered under the state’s MassHealth system.

In her stint as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Services, Murray led the reform of the commonwealth’s Welfare System by working to stop the abuse of the system and to encourage residents to become more self-sufficient.

So far in 2010, Murray has passed a Safe Driving Bill, which bans texting and requires improved driver testing. In passing a Better Schools bill she passed anti-bullying legislation, a bill requiring health food option in school cafeteria’s and a new Education Reform bill that will work to close the achievement gap. In an effort to continue improving the MA economy, Murray filed Economic Development legislation, which will unify the state’s model for helping businesses grow and develop as well as creating new jobs.

As Senator she has been extremely involved in her local community and has been actively involved in many organizations, including The Pilgrim Society Board of Trustees, The Massachusetts League of Women Voters, the Massachusetts Public Health Association, and the Statewide Breast Cancer Advisory Board.

Murray is a mother of one daughter, and she attended Northwestern University and El Camino College.

Therese Murray is running for re-election this fall and needs your help! Interested? Get involved!

• Go to http://www.theresemurray.com and sign up for Therese’s newsletter to stay abreast of her work and campaign news.
• Check out Therese Murray on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SenatePresidentMurray

-Sophie Mettler-Grove, CDM Campaigns Director

Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray was first elected to public office in 1997, winning a seat on the Worcester City Council. He was later elected mayor of Worcester in 2001 and Lieutenant Governor in 2006, following a historic grassroots campaign alongside Governor Patrick. Read more about Governor Patrick here.

Murray works with Governor Patrick to lead Massachusetts by promoting job growth across the Commonwealth, bringing reform and real change to state government, investing in roads, bridges, life sciences and green jobs, while maintaining vital public services and a social safety net for those who need it most.

As the Governor’s lead advocate and liaison to municipalities across Massachusetts, Tim works to foster economic development and advance projects to repair our crumbling road, rail, and bridge infrastructure following years of neglect by prior administrations.

Tim drove the negotiations with national railroad company CSX resulting in an historic agreement that will lead to expansion of commuter and freight rail service across the Commonwealth. He also led an innovative and successful campaign to bring Wi-Fi Internet access to our commuter trains and boats.

As Chairman of the Governor’s Council on Veterans’ Services, Tim fights to ensure that Massachusetts offers the nation’s most comprehensive services to veterans and their families, while addressing the new challenges faced by veterans returning home from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tim also chairs the Governor’s Councils on Housing and Homelessness, and leads the state’s efforts to combat domestic violence–issuing the first ever Public Health Advisory to elevate the profile and response to the issue.

As a former three-term Mayor of Worcester, the state’s second largest city, Tim is deeply committed to the success of our cities and towns, and has made protecting local aid a top priority for the Patrick-Murray administration.

Tim Murray is running for re-election along Governor Patrick this year and needs your help!

Here’s how you can help:

- Go to http://www.timmurray.org and sign up for Tim’s e-mail and to become an organizer.

- Follow Tim Murray on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TimMurray2010 and on Twitter: @TimMurray2010

- Contact Campaign Manager Jen Murphy at jen@timmurray.com to see how you can get involved in your area.

- Contribute $20 to Tim Murray’s campaign today! https://secure.sage-systems.com/cms/timmurray/?l=donate .

-Sophie Mettler-Grove, CDM Campaigns Director

mettlers@macollegedems.org