That was the key point made by Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker in a phone interview Friday summarizing the 2007-08 legislative session - the longest in Minnesota's 150-year history.

"We were sitting at the same table and not throwing food," he quipped. Burning a lot of days this year more than made up for last year's inability to "get along," Howes continued.

The highlights, according to Howes, included balancing the budget, doubling the military combat zone tax credit and putting a 3.9 percent cap on property taxes. In addition, the legislature put $25 million in property tax relief through the refund program and $60 million in local government aid.

"We did a little bit for schools," he explained, saying the progress that was made "healed the wounds. It's enough to keep them scratching through until next year." Howes noted the increasing need for education funding, especially in light of the failed referendums in the Brainerd and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley school districts.

"We will finally finish the Paul Bunyan Trail," Howes added.

JOBZ zones were saved, he continued, adding that Cass acquired 150 needed new jobs from it. "Cass can't live on tourism and timber forever. We need manufacturing support somehow.

"People won't really notice we were there," said Howes. That's a good thing, he explained. "If people notice we were there, that means we made some bonehead decisions."