Texas Democrats Return, Republicans Stall, and Taxpayers Lose

Originally published on Substack.

After two weeks of fleeing to Illinois, New York, and California, Texas House Democrats finally returned, letting the chamber make quorum again (The Texan). They called their stunt a “victory,” but Texans know better—it was little more than political theater. Meanwhile, Republicans, who control the House, Senate, and Governor’s Mansion, let the entire first special session collapse without delivering on taxpayers’ top priorities.

That’s the real story. Not partisan bickering, but bipartisan failure.

Redistricting: More Partisan Theater Than Policy

The Democrats’ walkout was about congressional redistricting. They denounced the GOP’s proposed map as a “racist gerrymander” and used quorum-breaking as their weapon. But here’s the truth: redistricting in Texas (and across the country) has become hyper-partisan. Both sides use maps to protect power rather than to represent Texans fairly.

And it’s not at all clear that Republicans “win” from this approach. Texas is changing fast. If redistricting ends up creating new safe seats that are captured by progressive Democrats, the outcome could actually weaken Texas’s pro-growth policy edge. More lawmakers hostile to property tax reform, spending restraint, and education freedom would be a setback for taxpayers.

That’s why I’ve argued before that Texas has led despite government, not because of it (see my Substack post here). The redistricting drama proves it again: politicians are consumed by their maps while families are consumed by rising costs of living.

First Special Session: All Hat, No Cattle

• For two weeks, the House sat idle, unable to pass bills because Democrats broke quorum.
• When members finally returned, the session sputtered out days early with nothing accomplished.
• Gov. Abbott immediately called a second session with nearly the same agenda, except for a last-minute “camp safety” addition.

This is hardly the Texas leadership taxpayers expect. The legislature had the chance to tackle runaway spending, serious property tax relief, and economic reforms—but left empty-handed.

Second Special Session: Déjà Vu on Property Taxes

Now, Abbott, Patrick, and Burrows promise to try again. But what’s on the agenda? Another weak attempt at property tax relief in the form of SB 10, which looks eerily similar to SB 9 from the regular session.

SB 10 tinkers at the edges rather than solving the real problem. Texans still face the 7th highest property taxes in the nation, with homeowners paying 1.36% of their property’s value every year (Tax Foundation). Even with homestead exemptions now up to $140,000 and lower school district tax rates, the burden keeps climbing. Why? Because lawmakers refuse to get serious about limiting local government spending.

Without strong spending limits, property tax bills will keep rising—no matter how many exemptions or temporary cuts are passed. For more on why, I’ve laid out a full path to true property tax elimination (read my Substack here).

Lessons from the Quorum Break

What did we learn from this circus?

• Democrats would rather run than face losing a vote.
• Republicans would rather stall than govern boldly.
• Taxpayers are left footing the bill for dysfunction.

The last time Democrats pulled this trick, nearly no punishments were handed out. This time looks no different. Without accountability, expect the tactic to be repeated.

What Texas Needs Instead

Texans don’t need symbolic fights or watered-down tax bills. They need:

1. Real property tax elimination: Phase out school district M&O taxes by using surpluses to buy down rates to zero.
2. Strong spending limits: Tie local and state budgets to population growth plus inflation, stopping runaway government growth.
3. Accountability for lawmakers: Both parties must stop playing games and start delivering on promises.
4. Redistricting reform with limits: The legislature should follow basic principles of representation, not partisan self-preservation, or risk empowering progressives who will make fiscal reform impossible.

My Take

Texas leads in many areas because of Texans, not its politicians. But unless lawmakers change course, spending and taxes will keep boiling over—and the Lone Star State will lose its competitive edge.

The first special session was wasted. The second looks headed down the same road unless Texans demand better. It’s time for lawmakers to get back to basics: limit government, cut property taxes, and let people prosper.