Contrasting developments in Washington and Texas provide a neat study of what happens these days when Democrats have the majority (Washington, D.C.) vs. when Republicans do (Texas).
In Washington, D.C., Democrats have made continual efforts to get Republican buy-in on priorities like the infrastructure bill, Covid relief, even the Jan. 6 commission. Most times, Republicans won’t play ball. But sometimes, there’s a breakthrough, like the bipartisan infrastructure agreement. And even where Republicans shoot down proposals like a bipartisan Jan. 6 commission, they are still ultimately included. There is talk of reforming or eliminating the legislative filibuster, which effectively gives McConnell a veto, but it hasn’t happened yet. (It wouldn’t be unfair since McConnell himself already nuked the filibuster regarding judicial appointments.) And so, the business of government proceeds according to familiar established rules.
In GOP-led Texas, hyperpartisanship is a first resort. Democrats are treated with total contempt, like bugs to be squished. The thought of consulting Democrats at all when their “votes aren’t needed” is treated as a total waste of time. And when Democrats play by the rules of the chamber to deny a quorum and give themselves leverage to finally be heard, they are threatened with handcuffs.
Believe it or not, dysfunctional as Washington, D.C. is, it is still working better than Texas, which is already several steps down into the road of the fascist future the Trump-era GOP craves.
Final thought: Yes, Texas has always been full of trolls. See: A Capitol building built ever so slightly higher.