▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 7 0 s , ▁Ba er ▁was ▁the ▁primary ▁author ▁of ▁New ▁Jersey ' s ▁Sun sh ine ▁Law , ▁and ▁was ▁an ▁advoc ate ▁of ▁open ▁government ▁throughout ▁his ▁legisl ative ▁career . ▁ ▁Career ▁In ▁the ▁upper ▁house , ▁the ▁Senator ▁filled ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁different ▁leadership ▁roles ▁including ▁as ▁Democratic ▁Senate ▁Le ader ▁Ex ▁Offic io ▁( 2 0 0 2 – 2 0 0 3 ), ▁Minor ity ▁Le ader ▁Pro ▁Temp ore ▁( 1 9 9 6 – 2 0 0 1 ), ▁and ▁as ▁Senate ▁Le ader ▁Ex ▁Offic io , ▁a ▁post ▁he ▁held ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁ ▁As ▁Senator , ▁Ba er ▁served ▁on ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁Senate ▁Comm itte es ▁including : ▁Legisl ative ▁Services ▁Commission , ▁J oint ▁Committee ▁on ▁Public ▁School s , ▁State ▁Government , ▁and ▁Jud ici ary . ▁He ▁was ▁also ▁the ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁Senate ▁Com merce ▁Committee . ▁ ▁Before ▁serving ▁as ▁a ▁State ▁Senator , ▁Ba er ▁served ▁ 2 1 ▁years ▁in ▁the ▁lower ▁house ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁Jersey ▁Legisl ature , ▁the ▁New ▁Jersey ▁General ▁Assembly , ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 3 . ▁While ▁in ▁the ▁Assembly , ▁Ba er ▁served ▁in ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁different ▁posts ▁including ▁ ▁Minor ity ▁Le ader ▁Pro ▁Temp ore ▁( 1 9 9 2 – 1 9 9 3 ), ▁Deput y ▁Spe aker ▁( 1 9 9 1 ),