When the final gavel banged in the Minnesota House last week, the finger-pointing immediately ensued.

Highlights of what Minnesotans got out of the 2010-11 session include talks of a new Vikings stadium, a divisive marriage amendment on the 2012 ballot and a looming $5-billion budget deficit.

Not exactly the epitome of ideal.

In fact, this year fell completely short âÄî in the first year of the previous four two-year sessions, about 158 bills were passed. This time around, only 117 were signed into law.

Our elected officials took office in January with the task of closing the stateâÄôs budget shortfall and they couldnâÄôt get it done.

Last week, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed nine budget bills passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature, likely ensuring not only a special session, but a partial government shutdown as well.

Though Dayton called out the âÄúextreme right-wing members of the GOP,âÄù who âÄú[donâÄôt] really know much about government,âÄù GOP Majority Leader Sen. Amy Koch said Republicans arenâÄôt focusing on a shutdown, but rather, would like to reach a resolution with Dayton.

But actions speak louder than words. The GOP has known throughout the entire session that Dayton would veto plans made up exclusively of deep cuts, yet they continued to waste time by pushing bills that had no prayer of passing.

Whatever happens next, lawmakers need to stop acting like children and, you know, do the jobs they were elected to do. Blaming one another is inexcusable and should be detested by every Minnesotan subjected to lawmakersâÄô excuses.