Elected to Assembly 1992; reelected 1994; elected to Senate since 1996. Minority Caucus Chairperson 2003. Biennial committee assignments- 2013 - Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications; Natural Resources; Jt. Com. on Finance (also 2001). 2011 - Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection; Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs; Natural Resources and Environment. 2009 - Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection (chp.); Commerce, Utilities, Energy and Rail; Environment; Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs (vice chp. 2007); Jt. Legislative Council. 2007 - Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Workforce Development, Technical Colleges and Consumer Protection (chp.); Commerce, Utilities and Rail; Environment and Natural Resources. 2005 - Energy, Utilities and Information Technology; Natural Resources and Transportation; Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform; Retirement Research Com. (since 1997). 2003 - Energy and Utilities; Environment and Natural Resources; Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs and Government Reform. 2001 - Environmental Resources; Human Services and Aging (also 1999); Judiciary, Consumer Affairs, and Campaign Finance Reform. 1999 - Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations (chp.); Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform; State of Wis. Building Comn.; Law Revision Com.; Transportation Projects Comn. 1997 - Jt. Legis. Audit (co-chp., eff. 1/15/97 to 4/20/98); Jt. Com. for Review of Administrative Rules (eff. 1/15/97 to 1/5/98, also 1995); Agriculture and Environmental Resources (eff. 1/15/97 to 4/20/98); Health, Family Services and Aging (eff. 4/21/98); Health, Human Services, Aging, Corrections, Veterans and Military Affairs (eff. 1/15/97 to 1/7/98); Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs (chp., eff. 1/5/98); Council on Workforce Excellence.