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Mike Barrett

State Senator | Democrat | 3rd Middlesex District MA

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Mike’s Record

In eight years in the Mass. State Senate, and even earlier in six years in the Mass. House of Representatives, Mike crafted a record beyond expectations for a state legislator:

  • Education.  In 1990 Mike wrote an attention-getting cover story for the Atlantic Monthly advocating a longer school day and year for American students, triggering a debate that continues to this day.  The next year, the US Congress created a National Education Commission on Time and Learning and named Mike one of nine national commissioners.
  • Jobs and employment.  Intensely involved in economic and employment issues, Mike chaired the Education and Job Training Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures and served as founding member of the state’s Older Workers Task Force.  In 1989, in an early effort to investigate work conditions for staff in human services, he successfully promoted creation of a Special Commission on Worker Availability for Elderly Care, which he then led as Senate chair.
  • Human and civil rights.   In 1989, after other efforts had failed for 17 years, Mike led a difficult but ultimately successful fight in a then-resistant State Senate for passage of Massachusetts’ first law barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.  Marking the victory, the Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts hailed Mike’s “great courage and independence” and “enormous political skill.”
  • Issues of concern to women.  Since the very start of his career – when it really mattered – Mike has been unwaveringly pro-choice.  In 1992 he drafted and won passage of a first-in-the-nation domestic violence registry law, requiring that the state’s criminal record systems be networked together and that judges check on abusers’ past histories before ruling on requests for restraining orders.
  • Health care.  As Senate chair of the Committee on Health Care, Mike focused on health and human services for retirees, the poor, and those with mental, developmental and physical challenges, earning a Good Government Award from the Mass. Mental Retardation Providers Council.
  • Environment.  In the Mass. House of Representatives, Mike chaired the body’s Environmental Caucus.  Working with colleagues, he served as the House’s prime architect of the state’s Hazardous Waste Superfund statute.  In the Senate he was lead sponsor of the state’s Toxic Use Reduction Act, for which he received a “Best Bets” award from the National Center for Policy Alternatives.  In 1984 the Environmental Lobby of Massachusetts gave him its Special Achievement Award.
  • Leadership.  Mike has been named Legislator of the Year by the Mass. Municipal Association, the Greater Boston Association for Retarded Citizens and the Mass. Developmental Disabilities Council.  Boston Magazine named him “Best Democratic Rising Star” and both the Boston Phoenix and the Lowell Sun named him one of the Ten Best Legislators in Massachusetts.
Mike and Band.
Mike at the Podium
Mike smiling in front of tree art

News and Comments on Facebook

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Senator Mike Barrett

Senator Mike Barrett

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Senator Mike Barrett
1 week ago
Senator Mike Barrett

For the historic parts of Massachusetts (so, the entire state) this is huge. Having initiated this in a conversation with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in December, I am jubilant and grateful.
... See MoreSee Less

Rescuing the American Revolution's big birthday

conta.cc

Healey-Driscoll got the ball rolling. Now it's up to the Legislature. Dear Friend, The American Revo...
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Senator Mike Barrett
2 weeks ago
Senator Mike Barrett

Private jet financing takes a hit with SVB's failure. @Massport, look again at that problematic private jet hangar development out at Hanscom. ... See MoreSee Less

Where Will Startups Turn To Now That SVB is Gone?

www.bloomberg.com

Silicon Valley Bank played an important role in financial innovation tied to the world’s tech hub....
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Mike’s Twitter Feed

Senator Mike Barrett Follow 3,198 4,191

State Senator for Bedford Carlisle Chelmsford Concord Lincoln Waltham Weston and a large part of Lexington. Senate Chair of the Committee on Energy.

senatorbarrett
Senator Mike Barrett @senatorbarrett ·
17 Mar 1636778580439973932

For the historic parts of Massachusetts (so, the entire state) this is huge. Having initiated this in a conversation with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in December, I am jubilant and grateful.

Image for twitter card

Rescuing the American Revolution's big birthday

Healey-Driscoll got the ball rolling. Now it's up to the Legislature. Dear Friend, The American Revolution has a h...

conta.cc

Reply on Twitter 1636778580439973932 Retweet on Twitter 1636778580439973932 3 Like on Twitter 1636778580439973932 7 Twitter 1636778580439973932
Senator Mike Barrett @senatorbarrett ·
14 Mar 1635679123937931267

This piece makes the whole private jet thing look disgusting. And that's just the plutocratic angle. The greenhouse gas angle means it's beyond disgusting. @Massport, ditch the jet hangars. Don't turn @HanscomField into Disgustingville. via @NewYorker

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Zillow, but for Jets

The private-aviation market is down, so a wannabe oligarch tries out the Guardian Jet Vault 4.0 to look for some deals.

www.newyorker.com

Reply on Twitter 1635679123937931267 Retweet on Twitter 1635679123937931267 1 Like on Twitter 1635679123937931267 3 Twitter 1635679123937931267
Senator Mike Barrett @senatorbarrett ·
14 Mar 1635666589856026625

Private jet financing takes a hit with SVB's failure. @Massport, look again at that problematic private jet hangar development out at Hanscom. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-03-13/svb-crisis-where-will-startups-turn-to-now-that-svb-is-gone?utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=twitter via @opinion

Reply on Twitter 1635666589856026625 Retweet on Twitter 1635666589856026625 1 Like on Twitter 1635666589856026625 4 Twitter 1635666589856026625
Senator Mike Barrett @senatorbarrett ·
10 Mar 1634198239292411907

Good news alert: “Global CO2 emissions rose less than initially feared in 2022 as clean energy growth offset much of the impact of greater coal and oil use”

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Global CO2 emissions rose less than initially feared in 2022 as clean energy growth offset much of the impact of greater coal and oil use - News - IEA

Global CO2 emissions rose less than initially feared in 2022 as clean energy growth offset much of the impact of...

www.iea.org

Reply on Twitter 1634198239292411907 Retweet on Twitter 1634198239292411907 0 Like on Twitter 1634198239292411907 1 Twitter 1634198239292411907
Senator Mike Barrett @senatorbarrett ·
10 Mar 1634190910169706497

…. To keep greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts in check, I urge @Massport to cooperate with local aviation innovators Connect Airlines out of Bedford and Plug Power Inc.’s R&D operation out of Concord.

Reply on Twitter 1634190910169706497 Retweet on Twitter 1634190910169706497 0 Like on Twitter 1634190910169706497 3 Twitter 1634190910169706497
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Mike Barrett

State Senator | Democrat | 3rd Middlesex District MA

Bedford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Lincoln,
Waltham, Weston, and a large part of Lexington

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