Changes

==Opposition to state lottery==

==Opposition to state lottery==

Smithee, a [[Southern Baptist]],<ref name=pvs/> is a long-term opponent of the Texas Lottery Commission; he voted against the lottery when it was submitted to voters for approval in 1991. In 2013, he offered an amendment that would have abolished the commission by 2017. The amendment received ninety-five votes, five short of the two thirds required. Smithee said his bill was a [[compromise]] because of the degree of opposition that had emerged against the lottery, which funds about $1.2 billion annually to the state. The House, however, renewed the lottery for twelve years, but the issue could arise in future sessions.<ref name=lottery>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/texas/2013-04-24/texas-lottery-commission-reauthorized-its-future-uncertain#.UXkT88qIgbI|author=Enrique Rangel,|title=Texas Lottery Commission reauthorized, but its future uncertaindate=April 24, 2013|publisher='The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=April 25, 2013}}</ref> According to Smithee, there is "some discontent on how the lottery has operated, that there are too many persons that have profited from the lottery and not the children of Texas … only about 25 cents of each dollar go to the schoolchildren."<ref name=lottery/>

Smithee, a [[Southern Baptist]],<ref name=pvs/> is a long-term opponent of the Texas Lottery Commission; he voted against the lottery when it was submitted to voters for approval in 1991. In 2013, he offered an amendment that would have abolished the commission by 2017. The amendment received ninety-five votes, five short of the two thirds required. Smithee said his bill was a compromise because of the degree of opposition that had emerged against the lottery, which funds about $1.2 billion annually to the state. The House, however, renewed the lottery for twelve years, but the issue could arise in future sessions.<ref name=lottery>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/texas/2013-04-24/texas-lottery-commission-reauthorized-its-future-uncertain#.UXkT88qIgbI|author=Enrique Rangel,|title=Texas Lottery Commission reauthorized, but its future uncertaindate=April 24, 2013|publisher='The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=April 25, 2013}}</ref> According to Smithee, there is "some discontent on how the lottery has operated, that there are too many persons that have profited from the lottery and not the children of Texas … only about 25 cents of each dollar go to the schoolchildren."<ref name=lottery/>

==Another bid for Speaker?==

==Another bid for Speaker?==