“The reason to have the enforcement go through the Legislature is to respect separation of powers and to respect the Constitution and our Constitutional principles, the bedrocks of our democracy and ensure that you have that judicial pathway as well,” said State Senator Becca Rausch.

Above all, Rausch said her constituents were communicating worry and fear over issues like cost of living, safety, the environment and democracy. People sometimes stopped her when shopping at Trader Joe’s, she said, to bring up “kitchen table issues” — practical concerns like making ends meet. “They feel politics through the filter of whatever’s going on in their lives,” Rausch said. “‘Can we all go to the doctor when we need to and get medical care? Can we fulfill our basic needs?’”

Attleboro Enterprises has received another major boost for its new Plainville facility, with state Sens. Paul Feeney and Becca Rausch presenting a $100,000 state earmark Monday. The Senators visited the site at 300 South St. as the nonprofit prepares to serve about 165 more youths and adults with intellectual disabilities.

“As Trump and his Administration accelerate and intensify their attacks on journalism and sources are increasingly afraid to speak up, the Massachusetts Senate takes an historic stand to strengthen our free press and fortify our democracy,” said Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “The need for a statutory press shield law in our Commonwealth has never been more urgent."

As of last year, Massachusetts was one of only nine states in the country without a reporters shield law, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. “We need to fix this problem,” Senator Rausch said from the Senate floor Thursday. “As we see repeated attacks on the press, we need to fix it now.”

"Elections are central to our representative democracy. They require candidates willing to dedicate themselves to both public service and to running for office. But the safety and security of your home should never have to be one of the sacrifices of the campaign trail."

“Building resilience in the face of climate change requires ecosystem-wide collaboration... These grants will help restore entire watersheds, making our rivers and wetlands cleaner, more vibrant, and better equipped to handle future floods and droughts."

The plan also would include … a policy — originally proposed by state Senator Becca Rausch — that would scrub candidates’ addresses from the ballot and instead only list what town or city they live in. The proposal emerged after a gunman shot two Minnesota lawmakers at their homes last year, prompting lawmakers to reconsider how readily available some of their personal information should be.

Supporting LGBTQ+ people is simple, Rausch said: “Treat everyone with love and respect. Pride is a time for celebration and reflection. For our queer and trans community members and allies alike, this month is about saying yes to including and supporting one another, saying yes to embracing authenticity, and this month is about joy."

“I don’t care what your political affiliation is…. The uber-wealthy should not be able to buy their way into elected office. That is not a democracy,” Rausch said.