U.S. Rep. Jason Smith has asked President-elect Donald Trump to take steps to ax 14 federal rules and regulations that are "harming our congressional district and rural America."

In a letter to Trump dated Dec. 5, Smith (R-Salem) wrote residents of Southeast Missouri and the south-central part of the state "are struggling under the weight of regulations created at the direction of President (Barack) Obama."

Smith, a Trump supporter, wrote: "Farmers and ranchers, small business owners and employees alike are crushed by the weight of government overreach."

According to Smith, federal regulations in 2015 amounted to $1.88 trillion in "hidden taxes on American consumers."

Smith wrote, "This cost far outpaces what the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) collects yearly and averages nearly $15,000 per household each year."

The congressman wants Trump to scrap greenhouse-gas emission standards that would affect coal-fired power plants and increase consumers' utility bills. Without regulatory relief, Missouri residents would see utility rates double and triple, he said.

Smith also wants Trump to halt rules and regulations dealing with the Affordable Care Act, "mass amnesty" for undocumented immigrants, modifications to overtime pay, bathroom use for transgender students, Medicare Part B lower reimbursement for drugs, farmers' access to critical antibiotics to take care of their animals, estate taxes, gunsmiths and consumer access to credit and loans.

"These are the ones that would immediately have a drastic effect in our area," Smith said.

The Republican lawmaker said he communicates with the Trump transition team "two to three times a week."

Executive orders issued by President Obama could be canceled by "a stroke of a pen" when Trump takes office, the congressman said.

Canceling existing agency rules involves governmental processes that could take three to six months, he said.

In his letter to Trump, Smith wrote, "Until these far reaching directives and regulations are repealed and the cottage industry of bureaucratic overreach that has sprung up around them over these past years has been dismantled, you cannot truly reform Washington, D.C., as you desire and bring relief to the people of this country."

mbliss@semissourian.com

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