Lawmakers, use your imagination and compromise
Friday's Senate revolt, which resulted in a Republican budget passing the Democratically controlled Senate, have blown the minds of Democratic leaders used to getting their way in Olympia.
Three moderate Democrats, Sens. Jim Kastama, Rodney Tom and Tim Sheldon, joined with the Senate's 22 Republicans to create a 25-24 majority. The Republican budget that emerged firmly draws the conversation back to the middle from the far left.