Changes

In June 2011, Smith became embroiled in a controversy over his opposition to the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011, which would have ended the prohibition of marijuana at the federal level. The bill was introduced by [[Barney Frank]]. Smith announced that he had no intention of giving the bill a hearing in the [[House Judiciary Committee]], of which he is the chairman. The bill hence never reached the House the floor.

In June 2011, Smith became embroiled in a controversy over his opposition to the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011, which would have ended the prohibition of marijuana at the federal level. The bill was introduced by [[Barney Frank]]. Smith announced that he had no intention of giving the bill a hearing in the [[House Judiciary Committee]], of which he is the chairman. The bill hence never reached the House the floor.

Journalist Rick Casey of the San Antonio [[PBS]] affiliate KLRN prepared a broadcast for his ''Texas Week'' program which was to have been aired on February 3, 2017, in which Casey would urge viewers to ignore Smith's suggestion that Americans bypass the mainstream media and depend for their national perspective on "tweets" from [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]]. Casey sarcastically called Smith's proposal "quite innovative for America" and suggested that it had been tried in such countries as [[North Korea]]. The commentary about Smith was, however, cut from the actual broadcast on orders of the station president, who said the remarks would have damaged the continuation of federal funding for KLRN. Since that controversy, ''Texas Week'' has not aired.<ref>John Tedesco, "Public affairs show still up in air: KLRN slot not filled months after Casey's exit," ''San Antonio Express-News'', February 4, 2018, pp. 1, A23.</ref>

In 2017, Smith urged his constituents to base their national news on "tweets" from [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]], rather than the "biased" media. The remark prompted Rick Casey of the San Antonio [[PBS]] affiliate KLRN on his former ''Texas Week'' program which was to have been aired on February 3, 2017, in which Casey would urge viewers to ignore Smith's suggestion. Casey sarcastically called Smith's proposal "quite innovative for America" and suggested that it had been tried in such countries as [[communist]] [[North Korea]]. The commentary about Smith was, however, cut from Casey's actual broadcast on orders of the KLRN president, who said the could have damaged federal funding for KLRN. Since that controversy, ''Texas Week'' has not aired.<ref>John Tedesco, "Public affairs show still up in air: KLRN slot not filled months after Casey's exit," ''San Antonio Express-News'', February 4, 2018, pp. 1, A23.</ref>

Smith will retire from Congress effective January 3, 2019. Eighteen Republican candidates filed to run in the Republican primary on March 6, 2016, to choose a nominee to succeed Smith. This nominee will be the presumed favorite in the November 6 general election considering the configuration of District 21. Among the candidates are former U.S. Representative [[Francisco Canseco]] and [[Robert Stovall]], the former chairman of the Republican Party in Bexar County.

Smith will retire from Congress effective January 3, 2019. Eighteen Republican candidates filed to run in the Republican primary on March 6, 2016, to choose a nominee to succeed Smith. This nominee will be the presumed favorite in the November 6 general election considering the configuration of District 21. Among the candidates are former U.S. Representative [[Francisco Canseco]] and [[Robert Stovall]], the former chairman of the Republican Party in Bexar County.