See what happens when we — our elected officials, Republican and Democrat — play nice? The state wins a highly prized federal research facility that had been sought by many more politically powerful states.

Now, the question is: Will the political euphoria generated by winning the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility extend into the upcoming legislative session?

Lawmakers are facing a huge budget shortfall amid an economic free fall. They will be considering budget cuts, tax increases and maybe a combination of the two.

And this comes at a time of political uncertainty. Although Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has quelled speculation about her future, stating that she will not take a job in President-elect Barack Obama’s administration, it remains to be seen whether Republicans in the House and Senate will mend their fences after intramural fights for House speaker and Senate president.

Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, at a news conference where officials gathered to celebrate the NBAF victory, stressed the need for unity.

“When we work together, we can achieve great things,” Parkinson said.

Wouldn’t it be nice if at the end of the legislative session, elected leaders from both parties could hold a similar kind of NBAF celebration/news conference in which they could rightly claim they worked together to keep Kansas progressing?