²ÝÁñÉçÇø

More than a little sleight of hand went into the budget proposal unveiled by Senate Democratic leaders Tuesday in Olympia. Despite some creative accounting to patch a roughly $1 billion hole, though, the plan sets a new standard that should be adhered to in a final compromise: It spares education -- early learning, K-12 and higher ed -- from further cuts.

It's an important turning point, one that recognizes the reality that eroding educational opportunity and quality undermines our future prosperity, and with it the economic activity that funds state services.