Oregon Public Broadcasting

The final gavel fell at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. Oregon lawmakers wrapped up a 25-day special session.

Majority Democrats called the short session "productive." Republicans said it was marked by partisanship and political retribution.

For some, the 2010 session will be remembered for what the Legislature didn't do. Chris Lehman has a rundown of some ideas that failed.

Environmental groups decried the death of a ban on the chemical BPA in childrens' food and beverage containers. It failed on the Senate floor.

Governor Ted Kulongoski expressed dismay that lawmakers refused to take up his proposal to ask voters to modify the state's kicker tax refund.

One lawmaker floated a ban on plastic shopping bags but couldn't get enough of his colleagues to agree.

A bill that would have restricted the ways that lawmakers can get state jobs after leaving office cleared the House unanimously. But Senate President Peter Courtney says there was little appetite for it in the Senate, where it died in committee.

Peter Courtney: "If there's a man or woman here that can do a job, why would you want to necessarily discriminate against them because they served in the Oregon legislature?  Is that bad?"

Lawmakers in both chambers did agree, on the final day, to refer to the November ballot a constitutional amendment that would create annual legislative sessions.

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