The 71 departing legislators Thursday night completed their final farewell speeches before Senate and House colleagues and joined fellow members in casting the final votes that ended their legislative careers. A very few members from both chambers will return for the ceremonial, and lightly attended, sine die end of session ceremony later this month.

While noteworthy for completing funding for capital outlay projects, providing stop gap money for the Pure Michigan tourism promotion campaign, the Next Michigan renaissance zone development program and scores of other issues, the final day likely was more marked for what it did not accomplish.

Despite spirited and passionate lobbying by several legislators and interest groups, the Senate did not take up measures to fund insurance programs for autism related conditions; it did not bring up for a final vote legislation that would have allowed for the Detroit River International Crossing bridge project; the preliminary discussion never materialized to bring up so-called Blue Cross Blue Shield legislation to implement individual market reform for health care insurance and numerous other issues that passed in one chamber but were not voted on in the other.

The autism coverage likely was the most discussed issue between supporters and the Senate. In the end, the GOP Senate leadership said they discussed the issue extensively in a closed door caucus but could not muster up enough support to being the bill up for a vote before the full Senate membership.

Since no further voting will occur this year, bills that did not pass need to be re-introduced after January 1 if they are to again be considered by the legislature.