• Elected Assistant Minority Leader in 2004.

• Awarded the 2005 Civic Leadership Award by the Citizens League for being a co-founder of the bipartisan 2020 caucus

• Member, Senate Education, Business, Industry, and Jobs, Capital Investment, and Higher Education Committees

• Member, Senate Finance Higher Education Budget Division

• Ranking Minority Member on Senate Business, Industry, and Jobs Committee

• Member, Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement

• Member, Early Childhood Caucus

• 2006:  Received the "Advocate for Local Educational Solutions" award from the Minnesota School Boards Association.