You have to credit Senate Republicans with a sense of humor.

They may be far outnumbered by the Democrats, who have made increasingly clear their intent to consider new revenue as part of the solution to an $8 billion budget gap, with a tax or surcharge package presumably going to the voters. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane,  even said something like that to her Facebook friends.

Republicans thus are relying on their bully pulpit — and lapel pins.  Last year, they sported pins lashing Democrats for hiking spending by 33 percent over the previous four years. The latest version, red, white and blue with the feel of a campaign pin, borrows from the Obama playbook:  In large font, it says “Yes we can!*”

An asterisk links to the footnote “balance the budget without raising taxes.”

No word on whether Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire is wearing one, since that’s her public position so far.  But that’s a blog for another day …