Eh, how did that happen?

Maybe it was all that rain that kept them indoors, forcing them to focus on their work.

Maybe it was the pressure of newly empowered citizens' groups breathing down their necks.

Maybe it's because so many aspiring to Ed Case's seat in Congress felt compelled to look decisive and stuff.

Or maybe — could it be? — the folks we elected to represent us in the Legislature went in there with the kind of willfulness and work ethic they promised during their campaigns.

For the first time in a long time, there isn't the obvious snarky criticism to lob at the Legislature. The folks we elected actually got stuff done this time. And during an election year, even.

Of course, having a huge state surplus didn't hurt, either. It's easier to decide how to spend money rather than what state programs to ice. Still, having bucks in the budget doesn't guarantee a productive legislative session. They could have very well spent their time gnashing out details on pet projects for the powerful few or being completely distracted by some red herring issue like traffic cams.

But no, they kept focus.

The 2006 Legislature made a serious effort to address financing problems and repairs in public schools. Legislators stood up for our safety and passed the "three violent strikes" measure, which will put bad guys away for 30 years after a third conviction on a violent felony. They also passed a bill that will allow the courts to charge arsonists for the cost of fighting the fires they set, and makes parents liable for fires started by their kids.

Legislators passed a couple of gutsy measures that will make it more expensive and less convenient to be a cigarette smoker, striking a victory for nonsmokers everywhere who are sick and tired of having to hold their breath to go through the office back door or the hospital courtyard or the open-air restaurant seating.

They moved to protect the Ahu o Laka sandbar in Kane'ohe Bay from increasingly inappropriate uses (like raft rave parties). Party poopers? Eh, no scared. Lay down the law.

The humuhumunukunuku-apua'a became the official state fish, the coqui got on the hit list and the 'opihi got some love.

Sadly, we did lose the leaf blower battle. The measure that would have made it a misdemeanor to operate motorized noise makers like lawn mowers, leaf blowers and chain saws before 7 in the morning and after 7 at night failed — but that one was a hard-sell during the weeks of weather-related cleanup efforts.

But overall, gee, you gotta' give them credit. Like distracted, unruly students who usually dilly-dally on assignments, wander through the halls and make excuses like "the dog ate my homework," it's a shocker when they do what they're supposed to do.

Now do it again.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.