“We are effectively smothering our planet and ourselves with plastic, and we have to address it,” said state Senator Rebecca Rausch, who chairs the Legislature’s joint committee on environment and natural resources.

Proponents of the [Hey Sam] texting hotline say it is not duplicative of existing services, as it is staffed by locals who can refer callers to local services, and the peer-to-peer structure makes it more accessible to young people who may be reluctant to reach out for help through other channels.

Building energy performance standards are tried-and-true policy. Boston and Cambridge have already adopted performance standards for large buildings similar to those proposed in this legislation.

“We are in a crisis of our own making and we have got to take steps now to reduce the damage we are causing, and continue to cause, to our beautiful planet and own health by limiting the use of single-use plastics,” said Rausch

"Passing a law to protect workers and protect people as they seek health care, and education, and other opportunities ... is certainly a step in the right direction,” said Rausch

Several pieces of legislation filed on Beacon Hill this session could rectify that licensure gap, creating a board of registration in midwifery that would standardize a process for issuing, renewing or revoking licenses.

"I'm particularly intrigued by the fact that at least some national tax policy experts say there's no connection between tax rates on capital gains and economic growth," said a skeptical Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham).

If the state’s Democratic governor thought her proposal to cut taxes would be met with welcome arms during a hearing before the equally liberal Massachusetts Legislature, lawmakers and advocates surely disabused her of that notion this week.

CommonWealth’s Jennifer Smith talks through the case for and cost of strikes with bill sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch and Tom Scott, Executive Director of Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents.

In Feb. 2023, “An act promoting access to midwifery care and out of hospital birth options,” (HD 2209/SD1457) sponsored by Rep. Kay Khan and Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley in the House and Sen. Becca Rausch in the Senate.