Have you read about the new rules in the Georgia legislature? The Speaker can appoint "Hawks" who can swoop into a committee and vote on any measure. Because there is no limit on number of hawks appointed this has the effect of allowing the Speaker to override any minority resistance to any measure in any committee. I know this sounds outrageous, but read it yourself.
http://hammeroftruth.com/2005/02/06/republicans-take-the-republic-out-of-georgia/
My fear, and I know it sound paranoid, is that this is a Republican experiment that will spread nationally and eventually end up in the U.S. Congress. A true "nuclear option".