Chumrot

Question

Does the word "laws" in the quote (paraphrase) refer to those mentioned in the Shulhan Arukh or those of later aharonim? I assume it refers to those in the Shulhan Arukh, but can't think of anyone who would say such a thing except perhaps Solomon Freehof, a Reform rabbi who wrote a whole series of Reform Responsa. It would be understandable, though, if the author of a teshuva wrote that when one looks at the Shulhan Arukh, and learns it well, and knows Shas, one realizes that the laws (we follow today) are often chumrot of later aharonim that have no basis in Shas.