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Brinkhaus chaired the Senate Education Committee and was a major promoter of his alma mater, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He authored legislation to establish special protection for school teachers facing acts of violence from  unruly pupils. His law created the crime of assault of a school teacher with an enhanced penalty. Brinkhaus worked to provide low interest loans for the purchase of school buses and greater operational allowances for bus drivers. He worked for increases in pay for teachers and support personnel as well as for additional supplements to retired educators. He led the effort to require that a teacher evaluation plan be developed by local school boards, rather than the Louisiana Department of Education.<ref name=lanewsbureau/>

Brinkhaus chaired the Senate Education Committee and was a major promoter of his alma mater, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He authored legislation to establish special protection for school teachers facing acts of violence from  unruly pupils. His law created the crime of assault of a school teacher with an enhanced penalty. Brinkhaus worked to provide low interest loans for the purchase of school buses and greater operational allowances for bus drivers. He worked for increases in pay for teachers and support personnel as well as for additional supplements to retired educators. He led the effort to require that a teacher evaluation plan be developed by local school boards, rather than the Louisiana Department of Education.<ref name=lanewsbureau/>

Brinkhaus also served at various times on the Senate Finance, Judiciary, and Agriculture committees.<ref name=acadiamuseum/> He sponsored legislation to halt the distribution of campaign contributions to legislators within the Louisiana State Capitol, the governor’s mansion, or any other state office building. He voted to require the disclosure of certain expenditures by persons who lobby the legislature and to require that individual legislators disclose the receipt of gifts of transportation, food, lodging, or entertainment.<ref name=lanewsbureau/>

Brinkhaus also served at various times on the Senate Finance, Judiciary, and Agriculture committees.<ref name=acadiamuseum/> He sponsored legislation to halt the distribution of campaign contributions to legislators within the Louisiana State Capitol, the governor’s mansion, or any other state office building. He voted to require the disclosure of certain expenditures by persons who lobby the legislature and to require that individual legislators disclose the receipt of gifts of transportation, food, lodging, or entertainment.<ref name=lanewsbureau/>

After five terms in the state Senate, Brinkhaus lost his bid for reelection in 1995 to the Republican Tommy Casanova, a [[Louisiana State University]] [[football]] legend. Casanova polled 21,543 votes (57.7 percent);  Brinkhaus, 15,793 (42.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>Casanova vacated the seat after one term.

After five terms in the state Senate, Brinkhaus lost his bid for reelection in 1995 to the Republican Tommy Casanova, a [[Louisiana State University]] [[football]] legend. Casanova polled 21,543 votes (57.7 percent);  Brinkhaus, 15,793 (42.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>Casanova vacated the seat after one term.