In the case of hurricane standards, I believe that those are set by the states rather than the federal Government. The gulf states strengthened their codes after Katrina and Andrew. I understand Rood's point, but he may be barking up the wrong tree with this example.
Most of the added expenses I see are on the local level in the form of increased taxes and fees. For example, I'm in the process of expanding my garage from a two-car to a three-car with workshhop. Because of the steep terrain where I live my options are limited, so I need to apply for a 5 ft. variance from the standard 30 ft setback in my county. The fee to apply for this variance is $530 over and above the standard building permit fees.
Not to mention preperty taxes, which county officials seems to use as their piggy bank, much like Obama has done with FnF.
Everyone bitches about federal taxes, but seems to me the biggest offenders are state and local Governments.
Our sales tax has gone from 5% to nearly 10% in most communities since I have lived in Arizona, and now they charge sales tax on things they didn't before, like rental imcome, for example.
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