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Government Watch, May 2008 PFAR Goes to Washington D.C. N.A.R.'s annual legislative meetings in Washington D.C. were held last week, and a delegation from PFAR was part of the team lobbying your Members of Congress about a Housing Stimulus package. Shortly before thousands of REALTORS converged on the Capitol, the House had passed a Housing Stimulus bill and passed it on to the Senate. Our job was to lobby our Congressmen so that when the bill returned to the House it would contain the following provisions for current and potential homeowners:
Our meeting with Congressman Adam Schiff was cordial and productive. He has long been a great supporter of REALTOR issues and has supported all the parts of the housing stimulus package. Our meeting with Congressman David Dreier's office ended with the promise to study the bill as returned from the Senate. The PFAR delegation consisting of President-Elect West DeYoung, NAR Director Wes Seastrom, Federal Political Coordinator Aida Dimejian, Boardmember Rita Sahlein, Executive Officer Jackie Johnson, and Government Affairs Director Laura Olhasso were well prepared and spoke with knowledge and distinction as they met with our elected officials.
Government Watch - March 2008 New Point-of-Sale Mandate Proposed for City of Los Angeles Government Affairs Directors from all the Los Angeles area REALTOR Associations have been working with a L.A. City Council-appointed Task Force whose job was to report to the Council the feasibility of a point-of-sale mandate for sidewalk repair throughout the city. Because sidewalks in repair are important to the safety of residents and enhance the value of a home and neighborhood, it is important for REALTORS to support sidewalk repair -- just not as mandate at point of sale. To that end, we have introduced a long lost of alternative ways Los Angeles can increase the sidewalks it repairs each year AND pointed out the negative aspects of a point of sale mandate. See details Last week, at the City Council's Public Works subcommittee meeting, we were successful at stopping, at least for the time being, that subcommittee's recommendation to the full Council for a point of sale mandate. The subcommittee's direction to the Task Force was to continue to meet and discuss all alternatives. The Task Force was given 60 days to report back to the subcommittee. We may have won the first battle but the war is far from over. Attached is the position paper developed by the REALTOR Associations and presented to the Council. We will continue to work toward a reasonable and realistic approach to increasing sidewalk repair in the city. We will continue to oppose a point of sale requirement. Please watch this column for updates on this important issue.
Legislative Liaison Program: No one knows better than you the effects government has on your business. If Congress limits or eliminates the mortgage interest deduction, changes the capital gains tax rate, or the Governor signs bills affecting point of sale retrofit or the disclosure obligations or sellers and REALTORS, your business may experience drastic changes. Legislative Liaisons will receive a special fax or email update approximately once a month from CAR's Governmental Affairs Department. This update will include details about the legislative and political events in Sacramento and Washington, DC. Your job as a Legislative Liaison is simply to pass this information to your colleagues at your office's regular sales meeting. You may even use some of this information in your marketing materials. Sign up today! Don't miss this opportunity to join the fastest growing grassroots program in California! If you have questions please feel free to contact Member Mobilization at 916-492-5200. For a fax sign-up sheet, click here.
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