Senator Lager began his career in public service in 2001, when he was elected to the Maryville City Council, then the city's youngest member to serve on this board. From 2002 to 2006, Senator Lager served as the 4th District Representative in the Missouri House of Representatives. During this time he served as vice-chair and then later as chair of the House Budget Committee. He also served on several House committees including Professional Registration and Licensing; Transportation and Motor Vehicles; Appropriations for Agriculture and Natural Resources; Policy Development; and Legislative Research Oversight.
In 2006, Senator Lager was elected to represent the 16 counties in the 12th Senatorial District. Sen. Lager is known as a defender of the state's taxpayers and works tirelessly to ensure that Missouri's state government is reasonable, fiscally responsible, and accountable to the people it serves.
Senator Lager serves as chairman of the Senate Committee for Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment. He also chairs the Joint Committee on Tax Policy and is a member of numerous other Senate committees including Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight; Progress and Development; Ways and Means; Healthy Missourians 2020; Job Creation 2020; Missouri Energy Task Force; and the Joint Committee for Legislative Research.
While serving as a member of the General Assembly, Senator Lager has been honored by the following organizations:
- Missouri Farm Bureau - Friend of Agriculture Award
- Missouri Corn Growers Association - Friend of Corn Growers Award
- Regional Chamber and Growth Association - Lewis and Clark Statesman Award
- Missouri Community College Association - Distinguished Legislator Award
- Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry - 100 Percent for Jobs Award
- Missouri Area Health Education Centers - Legislative Champion Award
- Missouri Athletic Trainers Association - Outstanding Legislator