‘Kumbaya,’ for Real? Greg Abbott Is Hands-on With Texas Lawmakers This Year as He Presses for Big Wins

AUSTIN -- Two years ago, Gov. Greg Abbott was so desperate to play down the rancor and infighting at the top of Texas state government, he tweeted a pic of himself and Comptroller Glenn Hegar holding a cutout of children’s book character Flat Stanley.“It’s Kumbaya time. Flat Stanley unites us all,” Abbott wrote.In the background, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and then-Speaker Joe Straus gripped and grinned. Just as easily, though, they could have bared their fangs, given what happened in the ensuing four months: Deadlock over a bathroom bill and property taxes. A special session. Recriminations between Patrick and Straus. GOP dysfunction on display.  Continue reading...