The Hidden Tax You Never See: How Regulations Raise Prices

What do federal regulations really cost American families? In this episode of the Leave Us Alone podcast, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist sits down with Kent Lassman, President & CEO of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, to examine the hidden costs of the federal regulatory state. While taxes are easy to see, regulations quietly raise the price of nearly everything Americans buy, from housing and banking to transportation and everyday consumer goods. Lassman explains how federal regulations function as a hidden tax on families, why those costs are often overlooked, and how excessive regulation stifles innovation and economic growth. The conversation also explores the history of deregulation, the incentives that allow regulatory burdens to grow over time, and why meaningful reform requires both policymakers and taxpayers to understand the true cost of government intervention.