Episode 42 starts with eclipse highlights and legislative seminar before discussing headlines (audio)

FM #1176 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1176 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. Starting with highlights from Ted’s experience of the eclipse, and with my highlights from the Citizen Legislative Seminar where I spent 2 days in State House.

• NY Attorney General sues meat producer https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/29/new-york-jbs-climate-lawsuit

• Meat a contributor https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/us-banks-sabotaging-own-net-zero-plans-by-livestock-financing-report-claims 

• 80/20 rule strikes again https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/just-57-companies-linked-to-80-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-since-2016 

• How to spot five of the fossil fuel industry’s biggest disinformation tactics https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/14/climate-disinformation-explainer?CMP=share_btn_url 

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 43 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link ->   https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1176-making-sense-of-climate-42-04-16-24

--------------

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Episode 42 starts with eclipse highlights and legislative seminar before discussing headlines (audio)

Senator Rausch thanks the Franklin Food Pantry volunteers with video message (video)

Franklin Food Pantry (@FranklinFoodPan) posted on Mon, Apr 01, 2024:

"April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! We're kicking off the recognition with a special thank you message to Pantry volunteers from Senator Becca Rausch.  Thank you, volunteers!

 #NationalVolunteersMonth #volunteers #thankyou"

Video link -> https://t.co/FwPeHN6SC6 

Shared from -> https://t.co/8getk7yWGw

Rausch, Franklin Food Pantry Video 2024 from Rausch Events on Vimeo.

Senator Rausch thanks the Franklin Food Pantry volunteers with video message (video)

Rausch Report: Celebrating Women's Herstory (March 2024)

Your monthly Beacon Hill update from Senator Becca Rausch. 

View this email in your browser At the beginning of Women's History Month, I attended the unveiling of a portrait of Abigail Adams, which now graces the entrance to the Senate lobby. It was cause for great celebration: a foundational woman taking her permanent place on the walls of our State House. As the Presidents of the Senate and the Massachusetts Historical Society spoke, I reflected on how far our Commonwealth has come, and how much farther we still have to go. More than 20,000 men have served in the Massachusetts Legislature. In 2019, the year I took office, my classmates and I finally brought the number of women legislators above 200. I have this honor and privilege thanks to the women who came before me, blazing trails and holding open doors. In that spirit, every year when Women's History Month comes in March, I recognize and uplift the diversity, dedication, and talent of women leaders across our district. Click here to learn more about some exceptional women making positive impact and change in our communities.  Top row from the left: Jignasa Patel, Norfolk; Becca Kahane, Needham; Carrie Galhouse, Needham. Second row: Sandra Elaine Scott, Millis; Liz Berthelette, Bellingham. Third row: Roberta Trahan, Franklin; Tina Powderly, Franklin. Fourth row: Laurie Mills, Medfield; Julie Garland, Wrentham; Amber DeGrandpre Wilson, Franklin.  You too can get involved and bring representation to the State House. To complement the portrait of Adams, the Senate will be installing a bust of a female historical figure in the last vacant alcove in the Senate Chamber. Nominate an influential woman with ties to Massachusetts by May 1!   Read on in this month's Rausch Report for legislative updates, a roundup of district events, and a look ahead at upcoming youth engagement opportunities, Earth Month activities, and more.  For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.      Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    ON THE FLOOR The Senate voted on several important pieces of legislation in March. I voted yes alongside my Senate colleagues to pass the following bills:  Preventing Abuse and Exploitation: The Senate unanimously passed this long overdue bill, which will criminalize the sharing of sexually explicit images or videos without an individual's consent. Online abuse is a serious problem for adults and young people, and this legislation brings a measure of recognition and justice to survivors. It also contains protections to prevent future harms, such as directing the Office of the Child Advocate to develop and implement an educational diversion program for adolescents on the consequences of sexting and posting indecent visuals online. This legislation must now be reconciled with the version passed by the House before heading to the Governor's desk for her signature.  Supplemental Budget: The Senate passed a supplemental budget to fund certain activities and projects, including the Emergency Assistance Housing Program and workforce training initiatives, and make permanent certain pandemic-era provisions like outdoor dining. Through a carefully crafted financial step-down program, the bill sent a strong message that the EA system is unsustainable in its current form and must be rectified and reined in, while simultaneously approaching this deeply difficult situation with care and compassion. I successfully championed an amendment to ensure postpartum women and newborns will not be tossed out into the cold. I was disappointed, however, that my amendment to mandate independent oversight of the program was rejected, despite bipartisan support. The bill is now in a conference committee. Early Education Act: I proudly voted yes to again pass the Senate's Early Education Act, which expands the accessibility and affordability of childcare and early education. Massachusetts is among the most expensive states in the country for childcare, with more than 19,000 children on a waitlist for subsidized care. As the only mom in the Senate with elementary school aged kids, I can personally attest to the extremely high cost of this care, and also its absolute necessity. This legislation expands the number of families who qualify for subsidies and helps providers through permanent operational grants. It also supports early educators with scholarship and loan forgiveness programs. I was honored to join Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Jason Lewis, and several other Senate colleagues to announce this bill at a Head Start early education facility in Malden a few days before it came to the floor. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for its consideration.      Reading a picture book alongside Senator Lewis and meeting some of the Commonwealth's youngest students!    Hot Work Regulations: Today the Senate voted unanimously to strengthen regulations of hot work processes, like welding, cutting, brazing, and other flame-producing operations. Ten years ago, a tragic fire reportedly sparked by welding claimed the lives of two Boston firefighters. In the investigation, it became clear that the Commonwealth needs to establish and maintain standards of training, oversight, and accountability, and to back them up with enforcement. This bill will create a publicly accessible database that documents code violations and fines resulting from noncompliance with the state fire code. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for its consideration. Fairness in Debt Collection: This legislation protects Massachusetts consumers by imposing stricter regulations on debt collectors. The bill ensures that residents can repay their debt without the impediment of excessively high interest rates or the possibility of debtor's prisons.   Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133 This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of contents, please visit -> View this link

Senator Becca Rausch recognizes Tina Powderly for Women's History Month

Via Senator Becca Rausch: 

"Today’s local leader shout-out goes to Tina Powderly of

@TOFranklinMA

!  

Tina is a proven food equity and nutrition champion. She serves as Executive Director of the

@FranklinFoodPan

, managing a team of nearly 300 active volunteers and staff.  

Thank you, Tina!" 

Senator Becca Rausch recognizes Tina Powderly for Women's History Month

#mapoli #WHM2024

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/BeccaRauschMA/status/1773057046318850519

Rausch Report: Leaping Ahead (February 2024)

Your monthly Beacon Hill update from Senator Becca Rausch. 

View this email in your browser Dear Friend, Happy Leap Day! The Senate marked the occasion by leaping into a formal session to once again pass the Healthy Youth Act, a bill that codifies critical updates to schools' sex and relationship education curricula (more on this below). February may be short on days but it's long on legislative strides and district activity, including constituent meetings, numerous legislative and in-district events, and shepherding my legislative portfolio even closer to the finish line.     This month is also Black History Month, which the Senate celebrated by welcoming a permanent bust of Frederick Douglass to the chamber in a memorable unveiling ceremony. Among the distinguished speakers in attendance was Dr. Noelle Trent, President and CEO of the Museum of African American History, who spoke about Douglass' life, work, and connections to Boston, where his legendary oratorical career began. This bust of Douglass, complementing his quote on the chamber's back wall and the first bust to be added to the chamber in 125 years, recognizes a true founding father of the civil rights movement and our nation. It was a privilege to be present for the unveiling. This month also marked an important milestone on the legislative calendar: Joint Rule 10 Day, the deadline for all bills to receive a committee report or an extension. I'm proud to say that 22 of my bills have been reported favorably out of committee so far and are advancing through the legislative process! The Senate already passed one of my bills earlier this term and another 18 are still moving through the committee process. Our legislative portfolio is achieving great success. As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, I have been hard at work in partnership with my House Co-Chair Dan Cahill, issuing reports on more than 300 bills by the February 7 deadline. The bills we reported out favorably cover a wide range of policy areas, from wetlands protection to hazardous waste management to air quality and water access equity.  Read ahead in this month's Rausch Report for legislative updates, a roundup of district events, a call for nominations for Women's History Month, a look ahead at upcoming youth engagement opportunities, and more.  For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.      Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please visit -> View this link in your browser Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133