I was doing a little research this morning and ran across an old article written by Shannon Tompkins.

Interesting read...

http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Tompkins-The-truth-behind-hunting-and-fishing-2078600.php

That's just not right in so many way it's ridiculous... I guess first we have to know about the misuse of our money's and now.. Do something... But how ?

They should build a new reservoir, or game/hunting preserve, that should qualify for appropriated funds...

Interesting read. I love it when our "elected" officials who are supposedly "elected" to serve the public think they know more than the normal guy on the street. Maybe one year all fishermen in the state should say screw you, we are not buying licenses and let the burden fall to police that on the legislature. I hate to do something like that to wardens who are hard working folks, but at some point the gravy train needs to get derailed.

Don't get me started on property taxes!

Interesting. As an aside, it would be funny (really funny) to see this thread go political and get sent to the bunker. JP's thread sent the bunker

Not to get too political, but in a representative democracy the whole point is for the public to elect someone that knows better than them... not someone that will do their every bidding


That said, I thought that I had read an article that one of our legislators had introduced a bill this session that would mandate that funds meant to be used for outdoors conservation/recreation would actually be used for that purpose rather than being reallocated as most of them are currently.

All that money.........imagine how many Florida strain bass it could buy. :0

Stuff like this is why people don't trust politicians.

If even they're not re-allocating the money, that's effectively what they're doing. They're saying it can't be used for TPWD because they spent too much elsewhere.

I found this... not the funds from license sales, but sales tax from outdoors equipment...

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/o...ive-6047402.php

Term limits for all levels of politicians could not hurt.

Another problem that the general public can't do a dang thing about.

It is from the excise tax on all sporting goods...including firearms and ammo. Fund 9 probably has >$100M balance that the legislature will not allocate because they are "balancing" the budget. I spoke with State Rep Klick about this issue in person and she seemed interested...but she hasn't filled the bill preventing this from happening.

Go and look up Unallocated funds Texas and you will find tons of shameful wastes...like the money they collect on your electric bill every month that is suppose to go providing heat for the elderly. They are stashing that money and using the interest. The 1930s legislation that collects and allocates the sporting goods tax prohibits using the principle or the interest on anything but parks and wildlife. They were smart...but not smart enough to predict the shenanigans of the Texas Legislature.

I'm shocked that the majority don't know this stuff!! How many times have I mentioned that State Government's middle name is "shenanigans"?? And the federal government's middle name is "GD MFing shenanigans"!!!

AMEN!

You know there is a PAC for almost every special interest group under the sun but I am not aware of a Sportsmans PAC. The only way to change almost anything politically is to support politicians that support you. Money talks an BS walks.

If there are any political groups out there that support our interests I would gladly support them in any way possible.