The major policy obstacle to ending the special sessions was lifted Sunday when negotiators reached agreement on workers’ compensation reform. It does less than business wanted, arguable much less, and goes further than union leaders deem acceptable. So, by the common standard that a good compromise is one that leaves all parties at least partially dissatisfied, this is a good compromise. And, objectively, it does take the step further toward stabilizing financies in the state’s troubled workers’ compensation system.

The Olympian has initial comments.

“There’s no one here who won. There’s no one here who lost,” Gregoire said while looking around at Democratic and Republican leaders from both chambers.

“This is a fair deal for everyone involved,” House Speaker Frank Chopp said.

“It is atrocious,” Johnson said. “For workers, it’s a loser.”

“Washington state’s workers’ compensation system cannot continue indefinitely in its current state – even with the changes reflected in this agreement,” Brunell said.