In a divided Congress, there are still no-brainer bipartisan bills that can pass

For example, now-former Sen. Claire McCaskill was able to reach across the aisle for support for the Payment Integrity Information Act, which would require government agencies to follow commonsense recommendations from the Government Accountability Office and to use data analysis tools to find and prevent improper payments. Estimates are that the federal government makes more than $100 billion in improper payments every year — even a small cut in improper payments could save massive amounts of taxpayer money.

Or take the Fly Smart Act, co-sponsored in the last session of Congress by Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and John Kennedy, R-La. It would ensure that government officials traveling via commercial aircraft for official business take coach-class accommodations. There’s an exception for specific security concerns, but this is a good rule: In a time of trillion-dollar deficits, elected officials and public policymakers can set an example to constituents by being fiscally responsible when on official travel.

Policies like these and more would make a healthier backbone for bipartisanship than the seemingly endless squabbling over border security.