A compromise that allows all parties to claim victory should not be disparaged. Legislative leaders and the governor were fulsome in their praise of the fiscal achievements of the recently adjourned 2012 legislative session.

Reports suggest a budget compromise in Olympia may be within reach. If true, the spirit of unity will last perhaps until the governor signs the bill. After that, everyone can resume arguing about how unsatisfac-tory the deal is and what should have been done differently.

No matter how the current budget impasse in Olympia ends – and it should end soon – we can expect to hear a lot more about taxes through the campaign season.

Politics, a derivation of the word policy, took a particularly active turn in the state Senate on Friday evening. Three centrist Democrats joined with 22 Republicans to take control of the budget process. Following a long, raucous and emotional debate, they passed a bipartisan budget crafted largely by Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield.

Today marks the 280th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Historically, it is a special time to reflect on the virtues of our first president and what he meant to our fledgling nation.

January’s good jobs report has been deservedly, albeit cautiously, celebrated. We’ve been fooled before. Remember “green shoots,” “shovel-ready jobs” and “recovery summer.” But this feels different, maybe because as a nation we’re so weary, even our pessimism is exhausted.

Recycle bins in Olympia rarely empty. Legislators continue to rummage through them, hoping yesterday’s discards may make sense today. Voters are often forgetful and forgiving beings (how else to explain Newt Gingrich?), so a little repackaging might revive previously rejected ideas. Moreover, in tax policy there are few new cards to play.

A tough budget session got a bit tougher. Last week the Washington Supreme Court found that the Legislature has failed in its “paramount duty.” The obligation is found in Article IX, section 1 of the state constitu-tion: “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders ...”