Are there signs of progress in the state buget debate?

Lost in the chatter about cutting legislative salaries or expenses if lawmakers fail to pass a state budget is the fact that they and Gov. Jim Doyle have been slowly chipping away at major issues that stand between them and an agreement. The prolonged haggling may produce a good budget, writes Inside Wisconsin columnist Tom Still, but it also may create a lingering perception that our policymakers can't work together.