Trump and the GOP have called for following model deregulator Jimmy Carter

Carter, who today became the longest-living former president, served only four years but made moves that stuck and would shock Democrats and liberals today by ordering federal agencies to stand down.

He deregulated airlines, trucking, railroads, energy and communications, which helped stimulate the economy, said Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., head of deregulation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

“Carter also deserves credit for promoting the concept of a regulatory budget – a concept now commonly associated with Republicans, but which Carter pioneered during her presidency,” Crews said in a post for Forbes.

According to former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, a Republican and legendary penny pincher, Carter’s actions set the stage for President Ronald Reagan’s challenge to the Washington swamp. “Carter’s deregulation helped fuel Reagan’s economic renaissance and continues to enable powerful innovations that are changing our world,” he wrote in a birthday note about Carter for Wall Street Journal.

Crews campaigns for widespread deregulation and used his post to highlight Carter’s success, pointing to him as a model for today’s GOP. He also noted where Carter’s efforts fell short.

“The fundamental lesson is that true abolition of agencies is rare and corresponding deregulation even rarer. When Congress targets departments or agencies, such as disbanding the Department of Education, led by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, it will have to be exceptionally diligent to ensure that the reach of government is actually reduced, both in terms of spending and regulation. Crews wrote.

“The ideal result of abolishing an agency is the complete disappearance of its regulations. But achieving this requires clear legislative intent and mechanisms to prevent the transfer of regulatory power to other entities, and to continue privatization or return power to states and localities to prevent “weeds” from growing again, he added.

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Trump has promised to ease even more regulations than during his first presidency. He even suggested hiring Elon Musk to help. President Joe Biden has likely made this task easier as he has increased acceptance of agencies adding regulations, especially in the green energy space.

“Lawmakers can draw inspiration from Jimmy Carter’s legacy. We thank him and wish him all the best,” Crews wrote.