A week of anticipation culminated in a welcome compromise on unemployment insurance legislation. The state Senate this morning concurred with the House, passing EHB 1091 (41 yea, 4 nay, 3 excused). The Wednesday, the House passed the measure, which provides permanent unemployment insurance tax relief to a reported 90 percent of employers and temporary extension of benefits to unemployed workers. Both chambers had previously passed SB 5135, which provided temporary business tax relief.

The governor will sign both bills at 4:00 p.m. today. As the Research Council has pointed out before, Washington’s UI taxes are among the nation’s highest. This sensible reform brings a measure of necessary relief. Here’s the AP story.