But the disappointments include the failure to pass a tuition-tax-credit bill, which would have opened up school choice in Utah. Given the initial optimism of the measure's backers, and the support of the governor's office, that defeat may be a difficult one for supporters to overcome.

Also, lawmakers again refused to pass a meaningful hate-crimes bill, parading once again a litany of irrelevant and misguided notions of what such a law would do. The bill's continual defeat each year, despite opinion polls that show Utahns want it, is a testament to the power of ignorance. Lawmakers also failed to outlaw smoking in private clubs and taverns, which was equally puzzling.

All in all, however, the 2005 Legislature seems a success. Education, transportation and programs to help the poor all received sizeable appropriations. And while some good bills didn't pass, lawmakers didn't appear to cause much harm by the bills they did pass.

Most importantly, they showed that representative government by part-time, citizen lawmakers is a concept that still works admirably in the Beehive State.