So much for the folks who say that the office of Governor of Texas has no power. GO TEXAS, GO GREG ABBOTT!
I've argued over that same point, multiple times. Fact is, even if the Governor has less legal power than the Lt Governor, he's got the premier bully pulpit from which to drive public debate and opinion, and therefore, action on the part of the state legislature.
It was one of my chief pet peeves with Rick Perry. He rarely used the bully pulpit and influence of his office to positively affect the conditions and fortunes of ordinary Texans. Yeah, he was a friend to big business, but what politician isn't?