Few places need the federal government right now more than Texas does, as it begins to recover from Hurricane Harvey. Yet there are few states where the federal government is viewed with more resentment, suspicion and scorn.
For Republicans, who dominate Texas government, anti-Washington sentiment is more than just a red-meat rhetorical flourish, it is a guiding principle. Gov. Greg Abbott, the Republican former state attorney general, once described a typical day in his old job as, “I go into the office, I sue the federal government and I go home.” …
Texas has its own “rainy day fund” estimated at about $10 billion, but Mr. Abbott said Friday that he has no plans to call a special legislative session, which would be required to tap the fund. CONT.
Richard Fausset, New York Times