This doesn’t surprise me. I once read where Big Oil fund extreme environmental groups. The idea is that if they get stiff regulations past against them, this in turns drives up prices and profits. If they were to really compete for oil and natural gas, this would lower their profits.
The middle class is stuck holding the bag.
Looking at that list, it instead looks more like the ol neighborhood protection racket. Progressives stopping by on a regular basis to pick up their “contribution” to keep the progressive thugs away.
Regulations don’t drive up prices and profits directly. But they do repress competition because it’s harder for the little guys to comply plus it prevents new entries into the marketplace.
Many would be entrepreneurs look at all the regs and compliance issues and costs and say never mind, it’s too much trouble.
It’s the lack of competition that drives up prices.