Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, a freshman representative who won a four-way GOP primary last spring but then ran unopposed in November, is more upbeat than most in looking back on this year's legislative session. Barbieri, who stepped into the spotlight as the lead sponsor of legislation attempting to “nullify” the federal health care reform law, then later settled for a compromise bill, said, “It's nice to have a success. I really didn't expect to have anything more than a discussion about that.” He said that issue plus the anti-wolf bill gave him hope about pushing back against federal influence in the state/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

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• Eskridge: Session 'tough, disappointing'
• 1st piece of energy compromise wins Senate committee approval
• Davis: 'A difficult session in some of the worst economic times in memory'

Question: Anyone else enjoy the 2011 legislative session as much as Vito?