Departing Lawmakers Bemoan the Decline of Compromise

With more than 120 years in the House and Senate among them, four lawmakers offered a bit of parting wisdom to Capitol Hill newcomers: Partisanship is easy, governing is hard.

As the 114th Congress prepares to convene on Tuesday, some senior members who will not be returning reflected on what they saw as necessary to the success of both lawmakers and the institution.

In interviews, Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa; Senator Saxby Chambliss, Republican of Georgia; Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California; and Representative Jack Kingston, Republican of...