There is a great article in the Houston Chronicle this morning about the Texas Parks system. We didn't realize that there were so many environmentalists in Texas:

A poll of Texas voters conducted this past December by Woodlands-based Hill Research Consultants indicated 69 percent of those polled said they would be willing to pay at least $1 per month in additional state taxes "for new state and local parks, and to protect the state's natural resources, including our land, water and natural habitat."

(The poll, which surveyed 503 randomly selected registered voters, was paid for by three conservation groups: Texas Coalition for Conservation, Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy.)

Almost the same percentage (68 percent) said they supported increasing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's funding "to buy additional lands for conservation of natural resources and outdoor recreation."

If this poll is even a little correct, then a majority of Texas voters would like more money to go to our state parks system. Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (Kerrville), whose picture looks dramatic and menacing, has set up HB 1292 to get more money for the parks by setting up a "sporting goods" tax. We aren't sure how much that will help, but at least it's an attempt.