Americans have cast their ballots. Now they should be able to expect something in return: leaders willing to work together to make their lives better. A small business owner meeting payroll and a parent stretching a paycheck have every reason to demand that Washington turn the election’s arguments into progress they can feel.

Former President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich showed that fierce political opponents could meet that obligation. Their 1997 budget agreement offers today’s leaders a practical example of how to negotiate without abandoning their convictions. Small businesses and working families deserve that same willingness to govern.

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