State legislative session ends

The final gavel has fallen on the 2010 session of the Iowa Legislature.

State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco said, "We balanced the budget without raising taxes. We saved money through a major reorganization of state government and began the reform of Iowa's tax credit system. And we helped create jobs through a number of small business measures, continued investment in renewable energy, and a variety of public and private partnerships."

Wilhelm says the government reorganization effort helped the legislature to avoid raising taxes. She also pointed to the state aid to school districts legislation, which spent just under 2.5 billion dollars on education.

Said Wilhelm, "I'm looking forward to catching up with my friends and family."