While partisan sniping was the norm in the House at the end of the Missouri legislative session today, senators in both parties were singing each others praises as Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, brought down the final gavel.

It was in stark contrast to the tension during Thursday night’s village law filibuster, but even that was bipartisan, with Democrats and Republicans taking turns gumming up the legislative process. It was also in stark contrast to the end of last year’s legislative session when Republicans shut off debate in the waning hours on controversial measures.

Not so this year, and that brought relief to Dems and Republicans alike. Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington, gave a lot of the credit to Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph.

Outgoing senators Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis, John Loudon, R-Chesterfield, and Harry Kennedy, D-St. Louis, all thanked their colleagues and received standing ovations.