Senator Stephen M. Brewer Served 1997 - 2014 Democrat - Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex

Since being elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1988, Brewer has nobly served the citizens of Central and Western Massachusetts. Now representing the second largest Senate district in the Commonwealth, Brewer continues to diligently advocate for the communities he represents while being a statewide leader on fiscal matters facing the entire state.

Throughout his career, Brewer has remained committed to protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth and serving them honorably. Brewer is a tireless advocate for Veterans; in 2005 he was named the first ever Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. During this time, Brewer advocated for one of the most comprehensive state benefits legislation for Veterans in the nation, known as the Massachusetts Welcome Home Bill. He continued his passionate advocacy on behalf of those who serve sitting on the Special Commission to Study and Investigate the Hidden Wounds of War on Massachusetts Service Members and advocating for funding to support Veterans Outreach Centers and Massachusetts Soldier’s Homes.

A friend of the sportsmen, Brewer has also placed the preservation of open space and agricultural land at the top of his list. Growing up on a farm himself, Brewer lead the way to the passage of the Dairy Farm Preservation Bill, which enabled the Department of Agricultural Resources to offer technical assistance and funds to farmers, making them eligible for loans for up to $500,000.

He now serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, one of the most powerful committees in the Senate, which is tasked with handling all matters relating to the finances of the Commonwealth. The position allows him to work closely on the budget that provides funding to municipalities, state agencies, and some of the neediest residents of the Bay State.

Following statewide healthcare reform, Brewer championed a new law that requires insurance companies that provide coverage for chemotherapy treatments to provide the same level of coverage for oral chemotherapy medication. The bill, first filed by Brewer in 2009, has been praised by doctors, patients and advocacy groups as a national model for the future of anti-cancer drugs

Brewer remains an active member of the local community by serving on a number of organizations including the Barre Library Association, Democratic Town Committee, South Barre Rod and Gun Club, the North Worcester County Quabbin Anglers Association and as an honorary member of the Spencer Exchange Club. Brewer also sits on the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules.