Rep. Smith discusses legislative priorities in visit to Sidney

Expanding trade agreements, reforming tax laws and reigning in control of the executive branch are a few of the priorities recently identified by a Nebraskan congressional representative.

Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents the third district of Nebraska – including Cheyenne County – in the U.S. House of Representatives, was in Sidney on Tuesday for "mobile" office hours.

"I come back to the district a lot – my home is in Gering," he said during an interview at The Sidney Sun-Telegraph offices. "We'll be out around the district the rest of the week. It's important to meet folks where they are – what I call the front lines of the economy."

Earlier in the day, Smith met with community members representing the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce and Western Nebraska Community College.

"I like to visit business folks where they are and ask them questions," he explained. "I can't expect them to travel to Washington, D.C., or travel to one of the district offices just to talk to their congressman."

Smith said discussions with constituents help him understand what matters to the communities he represents.

When traveling, he said, a local Sidney business helps him identify his district.

"When I describe the district to other colleagues or folks I meet around the world, Cabela's is one of the common identifiers of the third district of Nebraska," he said.

While Congress is currently on a Memorial Day break, Smith said this is much work to be done when the session resumes.

"The overreach of the federal government is a huge concern," he said. "And that's not an overreach by Congress, that's an overreach by the executive branch. It frustrates people – that is what is growing skepticism across the county."

As an example, the lawmaker pointed to the Environmental Protection Agency's Waters of the U.S. rule.

"This is a huge concern to farmers, ranchers, city council members, NRD board members, county commissioners," he said. "Back in the '70s when Congress passed the Clean Water Act, over 80 times, Congress said that jurisdiction of the federal government is limited to navigable waters."

The new rule would extend Clean Water Act regulations to streams and wetlands, without congressional approval.

"I was in Chadron a few weeks ago and they were telling me how this effort by the federal government is complicating their efforts just on a storm water drainage project," he said.

The rules would override local interests, he added.

"And I struggle to find a good enough reason for the federal government to do that, and especially without a vote of Congress. The president threatened on more than one occasion that if Congress wouldn't accomplish his agenda, he would do it without Congress."

He's not the first president to frustrated by the legislative branch, Smith said.

"That does not mean the constitutional authority of the executive branch should just disregard what happens in Congress or what doesn't happen in Congress."

A proposed trade agreement with Pacific Rim counties – the Trans-Pacific Partnership – would have many benefits for Nebraska, but it could be threatened be a reluctance of lawmakers to give President Barack Obama additional powers, Smith said.

A supporter of the legislation, the congressman said it could add value to Nebraska products.

"Being able to ship our products oversees adds value to the products we grow here in Nebraska," he said. "Our congressional district here is the No. 1 agriculture district in America."

Passing the bill would send a message of much the country appreciates commercial opportunities and benefit both consumers and producers, he added.

As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Smith said tax reform is another of his priorities.

The current tax code needs to be simplified, he said.

"That shows a great opportunity for Congress to make a big impact and grow our economy with a simplified tax code," the congressman said.

As a representative of the state, Smith said he reminds fellow lawmakers of the wishes of Nebraskans.

"I remind my colleagues back in Washington that the No. 1 request of Nebraskans is to be left alone," he said. "And it probably stems a lot from the livestock industry and the federal government – government in general, often times – telling them what to do. They're just saying, 'Hey, we're not looking for benefits. Just leave us alone.' "