The great frustration of a divided legislature is how it works so hard to stay in exactly the same place.

Having a governor of a different party than the lawmakers is a challenge, but it still allows both sides to do their jobs. Legislators pass a law or decide on a budget. The governor signs or vetoes. If necessary, the lawmakers take their steps to attempt to overturn.

Pennsylvania is used to that. It’s the heart of the annual budget showdown.

But a legislature is different.

For one thing, it’s much more rare for a legislature to be divided. While there are 11 states where the governor is of a different party than one or both of his legislative chambers, Pennsylvania is one of only three legislatures split between parties. There are 28 in Republican control and 18 in Democratic hands. Nebraska, with just one chamber, is an outlier.

In a healthy body functioning the way the founders intended, bills would be debated with passion and zeal that didn’t depend on party. It wouldn’t matter who introduced it. There would be support and dissent from members of both teams, and honest discussion on the floor might sway anyone. Every bill could have a real shot at getting through committee and making it to a vote.

But that’s not how things work anymore. Advancing a bill based on how it fits into the party narrative can be much more important in getting to the finish line than whether it’s needed for the people.

On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill to ban transgender athletes from competing in K-12 and collegiate sports in the Keystone State. It’s an issue that has been a priority for the GOP.

On Wednesday, the Democratic-controlled state House passed a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana, selling it through state-owned outlets much like Pennsylvania’s liquor stores. The bill passed 102-101, split along the House’s narrow party lines. Legalization has been an issue that has skewed Democratic.

Both sides could claim a win. Neither side is likely to score a point. That’s because both chambers are each other’s kryptonite.

For the transgender athlete ban to become law, at least one Democratic representative would have to jump ship. While five Democrats in the Senate did vote for it, it’s unlikely the bill will even advance to a vote in the House.

For the marijuana legalization to become law, the Senate has to approve it. Spotlight PA quoted a key Republican who called the bill “dead on arrival.”

Both bills have taken months of work to get as far as they have. Between lawmakers and staff members, hearings and votes, they have occupied hundreds of man-hours.

But ultimately, all of it will be for nothing if they turn out to be the typical product of a divided legislature in the age of party over people.

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