Partisan politics today too frequently rewards symbolic gestures and grandstanding rather than the hard work necessary for governing. We are likely to see another example of this in early January when a handful of members of Congress reportedly plan to raise symbolic protests over the votes of the Electoral College.

Yet what our nation needs at this moment after a contentious election is to provide fewer rewards to congressional show horses and more rewards for workhorses who put a premium on solving problems, putting country above party, and bolstering Americans’ trust in our political system and our governmental institutions.