Lawmakers in Frankfort and Washington, D.C. took the first steps Tuesday toward what has the potential to be a historic period for our great nation but could just as easily become a partisan disaster.

In Frankfort, Republicans have full control of the governor’s office and both sides of the General Assembly for the first time in nearly 100 years. In Washington, the GOP is leading the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House for the first time in a decade.

Americans have already seen the rumblings of internal bickering and a bitter political divide, but we urge our elected officials to put this aside and focus on progress for our country, our state and on legislation that impacts us right here in Winchester and Clark County.

“The people have given us unified government, and it wasn’t because they were feeling generous, it’s because they wanted results,” House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in an Associated Press report. “How could we live with ourselves if we let them down?”

That mirrors the sentiments of many Americans — Republicans and Democrats alike — who simply want to see progress and results on many of the key issues that impact citizens on a daily basis including the minimum wage, job creation, health care availability and tax reform.

Now is time for our nation’s elected leaders to find some unity and to come together in ways we have not for many years. We cannot allow in-fighting and grandstanding to distract us from the mission of strengthening our country.

The first 100 days of new leadership is always busy with lots ideas and new legislation tossed out there. We hope lawmakers in Kentucky and in Washington balance urgency with caution when it comes to shaking up the status quo.

We must all remember that laws may be words on paper but each one has a drastic impact on the lives of millions of Americans.