NEW BEDFORD – Almost a century later, one of the biggest wishes of Azorean famous painter Domingos Rebêlo will finally come true.

His dream of showcasing his work in the United States will be fulfilled on March 31, when the exhibition “The Azorean Spirit: The Art of Domingos Rebêlo” opens at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Organized and curated by his grandson Jorge Rebêlo, the exhibition will bring together 71 paintings and works on paper from private and public collections in continental Portugal and the Azores, which will remain on display at the museum’s Wattles Family Gallery through Sept. 22, 2022.

Massachusetts Senator Michael Rodrigues said he has been working with Jorge Rebêlo to bring this exhibition to fruition since 2016. The two were introduced by Augusto Ataíde, the grandson of the person that sponsored Domingos Rebêlo’s studies in Paris.

“Domingos Rebêlo’s paintings are so powerful,” said the legislator. “I think it’s important not just for the Azorean Diaspora in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, but around the country to see this as an international exhibit. We are hoping for folks to come from California, from Canada, from all over, to see these works, which is why we chose to partner with the Whaling Museum because they are real professionals. I know nothing about art exhibits, but the Whaling Museum knows. They have a Portuguese advisory committee, which is very familiar with Domingos Rebêlo and they are very excited to help.”

O JORNAL - MARCH 4, 2022

SOMERSET -(BUSINESS WIRE)- Avangrid Renewables, a subsidiary of AVANGRID Inc. (NYSE: AGR), and Prysmian Group today announced an historic milestone in the development of the offshore wind industry in the United States and AVANGRID’s Commonwealth Wind project, as Prysmian Group finalized an agreement to acquire a 47 acre parcel at the former Brayton Point coal plant in Somerset where it will construct the first facility in Massachusetts for the manufacturing of offshore wind components. The Prysmian Group facility, which will manufacture subsea transmission cables to bring the clean power generated by offshore wind to the electrical grid, was included as part of Avangrid Renewables’ 1,232 Megawatt (MW) Commonwealth Wind project. Commonwealth Wind was selected by Massachusetts in December 2021 as part of the state’s third competitive procurement for offshore wind power…

“I am thrilled that Brayton Point has been chosen for a state-of-the-art facility that will be home to over 150 high skilled jobs, anchoring Somerset and the SouthCoast at the forefront of our Commonwealth’s offshore wind industry,” said State Senator Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This is a game changer for our community and I applaud Prysmian and Avangrid Renewables for recognizing the economic potential of our region and making a long-term commitment to investing in our workforce.”

BUSINESSWIRE - FEBRUARY 17, 2022

BOSTON - Pictures of the old synagogue show a decrepit building with peeling paint, broken furniture, and rotting wood. Prayer books were ripped. There were water leaks, vermin, and structural damage. It looked like what it was – a house of worship abandoned for more than 40 years, built to serve a community that no longer existed.

Today, the restored synagogue in Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Portuguese Azores, welcomes local schoolchildren who come to learn about the islands’ Jewish history as well as a stream of visitors making stopovers on cruise ships.

The synagogue’s revitalization and ongoing efforts to preserve the Jewish history of the Azores is a story of determined persistence that includes an unlikely player who lives some 2,400 miles away: a Catholic politician from Massachusetts. State Sen. Michael Rodrigues has for the past decade been a champion of projects aimed at restoring Jewish historic sites in the Azores, a string of islands in the North Atlantic that form an autonomous region of Portugal. Rodrigues, whose family has Portuguese roots, says fundraising for and working on the restoration has become a passion and a hobby for him.

“When I walked into this temple and saw a place of worship in total disrepair, in destruction, it just broke my heart. I knew I had to try to help restore it,” said Rodrigues, a Democrat from Westport who chairs the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

COMMONWEALTH MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 30, 2021

BOSTON — Genocide education will be compulsory in all public middle and high schools in the commonwealth under a bill Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed into law.

The bill, initially sponsored by Rep. Michael Day, D-Stoneham, and Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, was filed in a climate where a national survey reported that 63% of millennials did not know that six million Jews died in the Holocaust and were unfamiliar with other basic facts regarding the World War II event, according to Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Sen. Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport.

“I thought, ‘how could that be?’” Rodrigues said in a phone interview. “Then I realized that I am of an older generation where Holocaust survivors would come into classrooms to tell their story. They’re all pretty much gone now. It’s been over 75 years since Auschwitz was liberated.”

Rodrigues originally filed the bill in the previous legislative session to require Holocaust education but soon expanded to include all genocides, realizing that people were unaware of the Armenian, Bosnian and Rwandan genocides.

SOUTHCOAST TODAY - DECEMBER 16, 2021

BOSTON - It’s nice to have money to play with.

Under pressure, House and Senate negotiators reached agreement on a $4 billion spending bill, which was released Wednesday evening and which lawmakers hope to give Gov. Charlie Baker by the weekend.

The bill authorizes the use of $2.55 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act and another $1.45 billion in state surplus from last year.

The House and Senate had each passed bills using approximately $3.82 billion, and the additional spending lets lawmakers fund both bodies’ priorities.

Ways and Means Chairs Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues wrote in a joint statement that the agreement is reflective of their public hearing process and encompasses a wide array of one-time investments, including in sectors hardest hit by the global pandemic “with a focus on supporting communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and addressing economic and racial inequality.”

COMMONWEALTH MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2, 2021

FALL RIVER - The city could be a significant player in the burgeoning wind energy industry if a proposal by Mayflower Wind to site an operations and maintenance port at Borden Remington on the Taunton River is approved.

Mayflower Wind's proposal includes an $81 million economic development program in addition to the cost of the company’s proposed construction of the Borden Remington site that would be the base for maintaining the wind turbines.

The economic development package will provide for education and training to develop an offshore wind workforce, invest in local ports and in local ports, businesses and infrastructure.

A active proponent of wind energy, Sen. Michael Rodrigues said in the release that the company has shown a willingness to work with institutions across the SouthCoast and create jobs in communities like Fall River, while working with local businesses and educational institutions.

"With a commitment to invest time, effort and resources in our region, Mayflower’s proposal to establish their planned base of operations in Fall River is representative of the tangible economic benefit that our region has been seeking from our Commonwealth’s growing offshore wind industry,” said Rodrigues.

HERALD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

BOSTON - Senate President Karen Spilka believes there is “wisdom in waiting” to spend federal COVID-19 recovery money.

“We are no longer in the state of emergency, the major state of emergency at the height of COVID,” Spilka said. “We are no longer in the rescue situation where money needed to be spent urgently and quickly. We are now in recovery mode and back to the more normal budget type of appropriation process.”

As Gov. Charlie Baker pressures lawmakers to act quickly to begin spending part of the $5.3 billion state government received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues both said they would rather wait a bit. The two Senate leaders spoke on this week’s Codcast about the Senate’s priorities for spending the ARPA money.

Rodrigues said Congress designed the program so the money only has to be allocated by 2024 and spent by 2026. “They designed it that way so we would be thoughtful and deliberative and ensure that these investments have the biggest impacts in the long term in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Rodrigues said.

CODCAST EPISODE - COMMONWEALTH MAGAZINE - AUGUST 2, 2021

BOSTON - A deal to raise tax collection estimates by more than $4.2 billion and spend nearly $48.1 billion in fiscal year 2022 came together Thursday with House and Senate lawmakers filing a compromise budget that would also make the state's controversial film tax credit permanent.

The budget deal, according to House and Senate officials, accounts for surging tax collections over the last six months that have far outpaced the projections agreed to by legislative leaders and the Baker administration at the start of the year.

The budget filed Thursday evening also reflects the decision of negotiators to cancel a planned draw on the state's reserves of at least $1.5 billion and proposes to make a supplemental deposit of $250 million into the state's pension system.

House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues announced the compromise Thursday afternoon, and leaders in both branches hope to pass the budget on Friday and send it to Gov. Charlie Baker for his review.

WBUR - JULY 9, 2021

BOSTON – The Massachusetts State Senate today, June 24, passed a $261.6 million supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) to primarily address time-sensitive deficiencies, cover costs related to implementation of the 2020 landmark police reform law and make investments to support the Commonwealth’s continued recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the Senate continues to pave the way to an equitable recovery, the supplemental budget passed today includes $131 million to provide support and stability for our early educator workforce, $27.9 million for one-time economic relief payments to families on transitional assistance, and $12.5 million for costs associated with the implementation of last session’s landmark police reform bill…

“As we continue on the path toward our new normal, the supplemental budget passed today by the Senate allows us to pay our bills to address time sensitive needs, while meeting the immediate challenges facing our Commonwealth by investing in our early educator workforce, helping vulnerable families and fulfilling our funding obligations to ensure timely implementation of the police reform law. Additionally, in response to the tragic passing of Worcester Police Officer Familia, this budget includes an amendment we adopted unanimously to close an existing loophole in line of duty death benefits so the families of fallen police officers can get what they are owed,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways & Means (D-Westport). “Thank you to Senate President Spilka for her steady leadership and continued support and to all of my colleagues in the Senate for their advocacy on behalf of their communities as we continue to recover from the lasting impacts of this pandemic.”

FRAMINGHAM SOURCE - JUNE 24, 2021

BOSTON - Massachusetts Senate Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a $47.6 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2022 that aims to repair economic damage from the pandemic.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee's budget calls for increasing state spending by $1.2 billion, or about 2.6% above the fiscal year that ends June 30. It includes spending $1.8 billion more than the version Governor Charlie Baker proposed in January and $64 million less than the spending bill the House approved last month.

Senators will kick off their annual debate of the bill on May 25 and will likely file hundreds of amendments by the 2 p.m. deadline on Friday.

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE - MAY 11, 2021

BOSTON - An agreement announced Wednesday by legislative budget-writers would steer more state dollars to local schools than the $45.6 billion fiscal 2022 spending plan that Gov. Charlie Baker put forward in January.

Ways and Means Committee Chairs Sen. Michael Rodrigues and Rep. Aaron Michlewitz said in a joint statement that they had reached agreement around local aid funding for next year's budget. The House Ways and Means Committee plans to roll out its budget proposal next week.

The two Democrats said their committees' accord "provides certainty and predictability for our cities and towns" and reflects "the advocacy of our respective members in both chambers, school districts and education stakeholders."

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE - APRIL 7, 2021

Walking through the Boston Common, beneath the shadow of the golden dome that houses some of Massachusetts’ most important decision makers, a somber rendition of the usually-bustling park reflects the atmosphere inside the Statehouse.

A ticket inside these days requires verbal confirmation of your good health, a personal escort in and out of the building and of course, a mask.

Closed to all except certain legislators deemed “essential,” the marble-lined path to Sen. Michael Rodrigues’ office sounds of only echoing footsteps and lonely fingers clacking on keys. Once inside, however, the senator’s voice cuts through the quiet, “Make yourself at home.”

THE STANDARD-TIMES - DECEMBER 20, 2020

WWLP - JULY 17, 2020

BOSTON – Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed the Patients First Act, the third piece of signature healthcare legislation advanced by the body to increase access to health care, protect patients, and enhance quality care.The legislation builds on vital lessons learned during the COVID-19 public health crisis, as unprecedented demands on the healthcare system have prompted innovation and the expedited adoption of policy changes...

“Today’s passage of the Patients First Act reflects the Senate’s commitment to supporting our healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I applaud my colleagues for voting to expand access to care, including vital telehealth services, while bolstering patient protections. Thank you to Senator Friedman for her tireless efforts to safeguard the healthcare system and thank you to all frontline healthcare workers for keeping us safe in the face of unprecedented challenges.”

FRAMINGHAM SOURCE - JUNE 25, 2020

BOSTON — Remote participation at representative town meetings, more flexibility in municipal budgeting and emergency educator licenses are among the measures in a local governance reform bill signed Friday by Gov. Charlie Baker to help cities and towns continue operations during the COVID-19 crisis.

The governor signed the bill, the latest legislative response to the pandemic, shortly after lawmakers wrapped up work on it on Thursday night.

Under the new law, communities can lower the quorum requirement for town meetings and people can participate in representative town meetings remotely, as the town of Lexington already has done, using technology to access meetings. Also, select boards and town moderators could hold town meetings outside their town boundaries if they determine that they can’t ensure public health and safety by holding a town meeting in their own town.

“In the face of unprecedented challenges it is vital that we empower local communities to effectively govern during this time, and this bill builds on the legislature’s commitment to do just that,” said Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport.

STATE HOUSE NEWS - JUNE 6, 2020

BOSTON -- Brand new train stations in Freetown and Fall River, construction of an all-new Weaver’s Cove layover facility, and work on 12 miles of track are included in a $159 million contract the MBTA approved Monday for South Coast Rail. The contract, with Skanska DW White JV, is to build the Fall River Secondary, the first major construction package of South Coast Rail Phase 1. “When complete in fall 2023, Phase 1 will connect southeastern Massachusetts and Boston, providing riders with a 1-seat trip from Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford to Boston in less than 90 minutes,” reads a press release from the MBTA.

“This award is the news that the South Coast has been waiting to hear for a generation—Commuter Rail service to Boston is, unequivocally, coming soon,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The awarded contract represents real, measurable progress toward that goal, and I applaud the Baker-Polito Administration for their commitment to, at long last, making South Coast Rail a reality.”

HERALD NEWS - MAY 12, 2020

At the State House, normalcy stems from the bare functions that lawmakers and staffers carry on to keep state government running. Meeting in small groups, the House and Senate continue to hold sessions and advance bills but the once-bustling halls on top of Beacon Hill remain quiet and deserted. Save for a few souls walking the corridors, places like the fourth-floor cafe are silent and empty. Routines five weeks into the state of emergency revolve around daily COVID-19 press conferences and sessions, and anyone attending those leaves the building when they’re over. News Service photographers have spent the past week documenting the new life on Beacon Hill

Sen. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) is one of the few lawmakers regularly attending the skeleton crew sessions of the pandemic era. As the branch’s Ways and Means chairman, he often summarizes the contents of COVID-19 response bills as they come to the floor.

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE - APRIL 20, 2020

Amid universally dire estimates of the toll the coronavirus pandemic is taking, economists and legislators agreed Tuesday that the state's financial prognosis is still largely unknowable at this point in the crisis and that public health considerations, not economic forces, will determine how the next few months will unfold. Top state finance officials convened a virtual hearing with economists and budget analysts on Tuesday morning as they seek to chart a path forward and craft an annual budget for Massachusetts that takes into account the massive economic disruption caused by COVID-19.

"Our top goal each and every year is producing a fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes our commonwealth's most vulnerable groups and people," said Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues. "Meeting that goal will take even more concerted effort than ever as we face tax revenue uncertainties paired with expanding spending needs in areas like hospitals, emergency food assistance, small business aid and unemployment supports."

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE - APRIL 14, 2020

PIZZA AND POLITICS - FEBRUARY 8, 2020

State senators on Thursday introduced a bill that would require that patients suffering acute mental health symptoms get treatment without waiting for prior authorization, roll out a pilot program for tele-psychiatry in schools and implement other reforms to improve access to behavioral health services.

The Senate Democrats’ mental health legislation, which was drafted over several months, adds another approach to addressing the gaps in the state’s mental health system. The Baker administration introduced its own bill to increase spending on behavioral health and primary care in October…

The Senate president introduced the bill beside Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, as well as the authors of the bill, Sens. Julian Cyr and Cindy Friedman.

MASSLIVE - FEBRUARY 6, 2020

The Massachusetts Senate unveiled a three-bill package that sets a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 100 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, instead of the state’s current target of cutting emissions by 80 percent by the deadline.

The package would not only update the state’s 2050 emissions target, but would also create limits for emissions every five years, starting in 2025 and create a commission to review whether the state is on pace to meet its obligations…

“With all the research showing that we don’t have time to wait and the fact that the federal government is not only not doing anything, but is denying that it even exists, the Senate believes that this is a real urgent issue and that we must act now,” Spilka, an Ashland Democrat, said Thursday morning.

Spilka and Sen. Michael Rodrigues, a Westport Democrat, announced their plans to roll out a climate change bill on Tuesday. Spilka confirmed that bill included a net-neutral emissions target for 2050 after Gov. Charlie Baker’s address, in which he expressed a commitment to such a goal.

MASSLIVE - JANUARY 23, 2020

On Nov. 14, the Massachusetts Senate passed an Act relative to Pharmaceutical Access, Costs and Transparency, comprehensive pharmaceutical cost control legislation aimed at addressing the high and rapidly increasing costs of prescription drugs. The legislation connects the need for greater drug price transparency with policies to improve oversight over the pharmaceutical industry in an effort to tackle increasing drug costs. It will also reduce drug costs to patients and lower health care costs overall…

“With today’s passage of the PACT Act, the Senate takes a crucial step to address excessive drug costs, promote transparency and increase patient access,” said state Sen. Michael J. Rodrigues, chair of the senate committee on Ways and Means. “Thanks to the work of Sen. Friedman and others, the Senate’s action today enhances accountability tools to manage cost barriers while increasing oversight measures. This ensures that Massachusetts will remain at the forefront of cost containment, while redoubling our efforts to deliver an affordable and accessible health care system for our commonwealth and our residents.”

WICKED LOCAL - NOVEMBER 18, 2019

The Massachusetts House and Senate on Monday passed a $43.1 billion state budget for fiscal 2020, 22 days after the start of the fiscal year.

The figure is larger than the budgets initially proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker and voted on by the House and the Senate earlier this year, all of which were closer to $42.7 billion.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, called the budget “a balanced and fiscally responsible proposal built off of existing revenues we know we can count on going forward.”

The budget passed the House unanimously, 158-0. The Senate vote was 39-1…

The budget represents spending growth of $1.6 billion, or 4%, compared to fiscal 2019…

Asked why the budget was late, Rodrigues cited the “complexity” of issues, particularly around drug pricing…

“It’s really complicated,” Rodrigues said. “I’m very happy that we landed somewhere in the middle between what the House proposed and what the Senate proposed, and that we will have on the books a law that will provide an opportunity for the secretary of health and human services to engage in real, meaningful discussions with drug manufacturers to save the taxpayers of the commonwealth real money.”

MASSLIVE - JULY 22, 2019

FREETOWN – In a lot of ways, it was a groundbreaking on already broken ground.

Tuesday marked the highly celebrated beginning of the SouthCoast Rail project’s southern expansion, bringing MBTA Commuter Rail Service from Boston south to the cities of Fall River and New Bedford.

The occasion was not the first groundbreaking for the project, which has been gestating in Massachusetts politics for roughly 30 years.

This point was not lost on MassDOT CEO Stephanie Pollack, who took a moment Tuesday to recall a 2015 conversation she had with Fall River state Sen. Michael Rodrigues.

At the time, Rodrigues warned Pollack of the shovels he had collected over the years from past SouthCoast Rail groundbreakings and said he didn’t want another one until construction was already underway…

…Rodrigues, whose first SouthCoast Rail groundbreaking was over 20 years ago, praised the state’s most recent efforts and highlighted the potential impact Commuter Rail service will have on the region. “The communities of the South Coast deserve to be economically competitive with the rest of the region, and SouthCoast Rail is a large piece of that,” he said. “I applaud the Baker-Polito Administration for finally making this long-promised project a reality.”

HERALD NEWS - JULY 2,2019

SOMERSET — Friday proved to be something of a fact-finding mission for U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, who spent part of the afternoon visiting the planned Brayton Point facility that will connect offshore wind farms to local power grids.

“I wanted to understand the vision that has been created for Brayton Point to transition it from fossil fuels to being a renewable energy headquarters for New England and the whole east coast,” said the sponsor of the economic stimulus package known as the Green New Deal.

Friday’s visit saw Markey meeting with Haddad and state Sen. Michael Rodrigues, as well as representatives from energy companies like Eversource and Orsted, as well as Anbaric, the Wakefield-based company building the new power transfer facility on Brayton Point.

The conversation covered some of the history of what had formerly been the Brayton Point Power Station and the ongoing plans for Anbaric to process as much as 1,200 megawatts of electricity.

“I’m extremely impressed by how optimistic the community is about the future. I’m impressed by how optimistic Sen. Rodrigues and Rep. Haddad are about how many additional megawatts of wind are going to be generated and how Somerset can be the staging area for that future,” Markey said at the close of his visit.

HERALD NEWS - JUNE 22, 2019

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill authorizing $200 million for Chapter 90 funding to help municipalities complete road, bridge and infrastructure improvement projects.

The bill also facilitates the financing of $1.5 billion for highway projects and $200 million for rail projects at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation…

“The state of our infrastructure has a direct effect on Massachusetts’ economic possibilities and quality of life, for both people and businesses,” said Senator Michael J Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “By supporting our cities’ and towns’ projects, these funds will have a positive impact on every person and industry in the Commonwealth.”

FRAMINGHAM SOURCE - JUNE 6, 2019

Six lawmakers were named Thursday to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions of a $42.8 billion fiscal 2020 state budget.

Leadership from the House and Senate Ways and Means committees, led by chairs Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues, will try to come up with a consensus budget and present it to Gov. Charlie Baker by a July 1 deadline.

STANDARD-TIMES (via SHNS) - MAY 30, 2019

BOSTON – After adding $74.4 million in additional funding to its original proposal during three days of deliberations, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a $42.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2020. The final budget makes targeted investments in education, transportation and mental health services, among other priorities…

“I am proud of the collaborative process that the Senate employed this week, my first budget debate as Chair. Through robust debate, we made further investments across several key areas including substance use treatment and supports, civics education, security upgrades at non-profits, and suicide prevention,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Through respectful and thoughtful deliberation, and under the leadership of SenatePresident Spilka, the Senate has passed a budget that reflects our commitment to ensuring equity and boldly moving Massachusetts forward. Thank you to my colleagues in the Senate for their many steps passionate advocacy over the course of our debate.”

The most notable area of investment is in K-12 public education funding. The Senate budget funds Chapter 70 at $5.176B, an increase of $268.4M over FY 2019.

FRAMINGHAM SOURCE - MAY 24, 2019

The Massachusetts Senate upped the ante on K-12 education spending, unveiling a budget proposal Tuesday that would put tens of millions more dollars toward public elementary and secondary schools than either Governor Charlie Baker or House lawmakers have proposed.

The $42.7 billion spending plan is the latest indication that Beacon Hill is serious about revamping the state’s outdated education funding formula — and a sign that Senate lawmakers could push to commit more resources for struggling urban districts than their House colleagues.

…Michael J. Rodrigues, the Senate budget chair, described the education spending figures as a “substantial down payment” on the larger education formula overhaul, which all the key players acknowledge will mean increasing the amount of aid the state sends to local school districts.

“We didn’t want to get out in front of” those working on the education bill, Rodrigues said. “These are very much initial investments . . . in those areas.”

BOSTON GLOBE - MAY 7, 2019

Today, the Massachusetts State Senate passed legislation that reaffirms the Commonwealth's commitment to providing support for women, members of the LGBTQ community and children and families in need. The Senate also gave final approval to a $135.9 million supplemental budget for the Fiscal Year 2019.

…“The measures passed by the Senate today will protect the most vulnerable among us and ensure that health care remains a human right,” said Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport). “I applaud my colleagues in the legislature for taking immediate action to protect access to critical health care services for over 75,000 Massachusetts residents, eliminate a discriminatory policy that harmed families, provide heating assistance to seniors and veterans, and other vital steps to ensure that all people in the Commonwealth are treated justly.”

CAPE COD TODAY - MARCH 28,2019

Sen. Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, says he has prepared over his entire career for his appointment as chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and is eager for the challenge that comes with overseeing how every bill in the Legislature, starting with the budget, is funded.

“This position is a culmination of my lifelong experiences,” he said.

It took him six years to earn a degree in accounting from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Rodrigues said, because he had to start running his family’s floor covering business full-time when his father passed away suddenly. Then he became part of the Westport Finance Committee.

“I got hooked on public service and developed an interest in budgets,” he said.

STANDARD-TIMES - MARCH 9, 2019

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Senate President Karen E. Spilka unveiled their leadership teams Thursday, shuffling in two new chairmen to lead the State House’s powerful budget committees just weeks before the state spending debate begins…

Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, a 23-year Beacon Hill veteran, will assume the post in the Senate, where he last year led a closely watched ethics investigation into the Senate’s former leader…

Rodrigues — first elected to the House in 1996 and the Senate in 2011 — replaces Spilka, who started last session as the Senate’s budget chief before rising to the chamber’s presidency in July. She corralled the votes to take the gavel from Senator Harriette L. Chandler, who herself was picked to replace former president Stanley C. Rosenberg on an interim basis.

BOSTON GLOBE - FEBRUARY 14, 2019

FALL RIVER -- Senator Michael J. Rodrigues announced that the city has received a $420,636 grant to combat gang violence, 10 percent more than last year.

The Shannon Community Safety Initiative grant award to Fall River increased this year compared to last based on “positive results” achieved by Chief Albert Dupere and Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey, said Bentley Holt, legislative aide to Sen. Michael J. Rodrigues.

“The Shannon Community Safety Initiative’s programs are a vital component of our community’s public safety, which is always a priority,” Rodrigues said in a statement. “I am gratified to be able to support the efforts of Police Chief Dupere and the city of Fall River’s Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey, in encouraging Fall River’s youth to reject gang violence, and in keeping the city safe.”

HERALD NEWS - FEBRUARY 12, 2019

BOSTON – The Massachusetts State Senate has launched the “Commonwealth Conversations 2019-2020 Tour,” bringing Beacon Hill back to main street for a third session. The Commonwealth Conversations tour, organized by Sen. Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, is a statewide listening tour in which senators will travel to districts across the Commonwealth.

The goal of the tour is to foster civic engagement while allowing senators to learn about issues facing districts outside of their own. The tour will give residents, businesses, and interest groups an opportunity to interact with members of the Senate and directly communicate their needs, concerns and ideas.

“I am honored to once again bring the Massachusetts State Senate to every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Rodrigues. “With the new, more-focused format, the goal of Commonwealth Conversations remains the same. I hope my colleagues and I can become better informed about the challenges and opportunities facing our diverse communities, and reflect what we hear in our work on Beacon Hill.”

HERALD NEWS - FEBRUARY 8, 2019

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON — Human service activists and lawmakers rallied outside the State House Wednesday, calling for the state to help offset a cut in federal funding by allocating $30 million to help low-income families afford winter home heating bills.

Most of the 48,000 households in Massachusetts that heat with oil have used up their benefits or will do so by the end of January, according to the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, which said 160,000 households in Massachusetts are served under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Funding for the federal program was reduced by $11 million this year, and has over several years been cut from $200 million a year to $136 million per year, MASSCAP said.

"It's a critical time," said Sen. Michael Rodrigues of Westport. "It's critical we do this as soon as possible because this money isn't going to mean much in May or June."

WBSM NEW BEDFORD - JANUARY 10, 2019

BOSTON – Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Public Safety Secretary Thomas Turco announced that 16 police and fire departments have received $3,555,000 in state grants to assist municipalities in maintaining public safety and emergency response core services. State Sen. Michael J. Rodrigues, D-Westport, is the lead sponsor of the budget amendment that secures this funding.

For the eighth year in a row, Rodrigues is happy to announce that the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security has awarded public safety staffing grants to the City of Fall River. For Fiscal Year 2019, the grants will total $966,200; $506,164 for the Fall River Police Department and $460,036 for the Fall River Fire Department. Since 2011, Fall River has received more than $6.3M in funding from this program to help ensure the safety of the public by providing adequate funding for emergency response personnel.

HERALD NEWS - DECEMBER 28, 2018

BOSTON - With the clock ticking on the end of the two-year session, House and Senate leaders finalized a deal Thursday to tax and regulate short-term housing rentals through websites like Airbnb, reviving a bill that passed in July but was imperiled by concerns raised by Gov. Charlie Baker.

…Sen. Michael Rodrigues, the Senate negotiator on the bill, said the new version of the bill is the product of “good work and cooperation between the House, the Senate and the governor’s office.

“When the governor signs it, I’ll be very happy. The Senate has been on record wanting to do this for a number of years,” Rodrigues said.

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE / COMMONWEALTH MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 20, 2018

BOSTON — By the time they got to the bridge, the Navy guys were on a roll. They knew what they were looking at on the USS Thomas Hudner. And they were impressed. “Do you still use a sextant?” asked Gary Pavao of Somerset, U.S. Navy, 1980 to 1986. Corpsman First Class Dane Pace stood before a bank of computer monitors and a console of dials and switches. There was nothing on the bridge that looked like a steering wheel or a throttle. No compass binnacle. The USS Thomas Hudner, a guided missile destroyer, will be commissioned Saturday in Boston. It leaves Monday for its home port in Florida.

Sen. Michael Rodrigues chartered three buses Wednesday to bring 100 local veterans to Boston for a tour of the Hudner. In a previous statement, the Senator said, “I am excited and proud to provide this opportunity to the SouthCoast’s veterans. Thomas Hudner was a Fall River hero.  I am hopeful that our community’s veterans will take this opportunity to tour the ship named in his honor.”

HERALD NEWS - NOVEMBER 29, 2018

BOSTON 25 NEWS - NOVEMBER 2, 2018

BOSTON — Fifteen Massachusetts legislators, led by Sen. Michael Rodrigues, will travel next week to Portugal to strengthen the ties between the two regions and meet with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and other high officials.

“The country of Portugal is extremely important to Massachusetts, and to the heritage of many of its residents,” said Sen. Rodrigues in a prepared statement. “This trip represents an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between the Commonwealth and our closest neighbors across the Atlantic. I am excited for my colleagues to see the country that was the birthplace of many of their constituents and their constituents’ ancestors.”

O JORNAL - OCTOBER 5.2018

WESTPORT — Under a leafy trellis overlooking acres of lush grape vines at Westport Rivers Winery, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump met with [State Senator Michael Rodrigues and State Representative Paul Schmid] and environmentalists to discuss how farmland can be protected today for future generations.

Bump’s visit coincided with her office’s performance audit of the state’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources – the entity charged with keeping Massachusetts’ food supply safe and secure, and its agriculture economically and environmentally sound...

HERALD NEWS - AUGUST 24, 2018

WESTPORT — Since the landmark animal abuse case of 2016, local officials and residents have undergone many hours of brainstorming on how the town can prevent animal abuse.

State Sen. Michael Rodrigues and state Rep. Paul Schmid helped secure language in the senate’s bond bill — adopted by the state House of Representatives on Friday — that will mandate training requirements for state animal inspectors. One business day later on Monday, state Sen Mark Montigny filed legislation that outlines conditions unfit for farm animals...

HERALD NEWS - JULY 31, 2018

Massachusetts retailers are struggling due to increased competition online and growing costs from state mandates, according to a new report released by a Massachusetts Senate Task Force on Strengthening Local Retail.

However, the report stopped short of offering any recommendations to address the challenges.

The task force was chaired by Sen. Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, and Vinny deMacedo, R-Plymouth, and made up of legislators, business owners and business advocates...

MASSLIVE - MAY 31, 2018

FALL RIVER — Given the repertoire of deliciousness offered up at the second annual Men Can Cook fundraiser competition on Sunday, there’s no doubt that, yes they can.

Over 300 people crowded the hall at the Liberal Club to feast on offerings from 27 local “chefs.” The money raised is going to the effort to build a Vietnam Veterans War Memorial.

The fundraiser was organized by state Rep. Alan Silvia, Sen. Michael Rodrigues and former city councilor Daniel Rego. Last year, proceeds from the event went to the city’s Veterans’ Center...

HERALD NEWS - MARCH 11,2018

FALL RIVER — On Feb. 7, state senators from across Massachusetts will come to SouthCoast to get a firsthand look at the region’s pressing issues, particularly a long-promised and talked-about rail link to Boston.

The lawmakers’ visit will be part of a statewide initiative called Commonwealth Conversations, and it follows a similar listening tour across Massachusetts two years ago that produced a comprehensive report on several important issues such as the opioid crisis, criminal justice reform, the environment and education.

“We as a Senate agreed it was a worthwhile event two years ago, and we’re going to do it again,” state Sen. Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, said during a recent meeting with the Herald News Editorial Board...

HERALD NEWS - JANUARY 22, 2017