May 2006 Field Report - Southeast Michigan
The Importance of RPAC
By: Tony Daunt – Southeast Michigan Field Director
Each year, the Michigan Association of REALTORS® is one of the largest contributors to our state’s political candidates and is widely regarded as one of the most influential associations in Lansing. This is possible thanks to the generous donations made to the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) by thousands of our members who give large and small. Last year alone we raised nearly $700,000 and our goal for this year is almost $740,000. Whether you are able to give $5 or $5,000, every dollar is appreciated and goes to support the candidates who are committed to protecting your ability to do business in the state of Michigan.
With all of the recent headlines coming from Washington, DC regarding the scandalous behavior surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Congressman Tom DeLay of Texas, one might legitimately ask why they should contribute to a political action committee (PAC). After all, if the monies collected are going to fund illegal or unethical activities, why would you want to be a part of that? Let me assure you that the Michigan Association of REALTORS® is a highly respected organization and the types of activity that you hear about in Washington is not, and should not be, a concern to our 35,000 members. Often, there is a perception that campaign contributions and lobbying efforts by associations such as the MAR, Michigan Chamber of Commerce or the Michigan Education Association are all efforts to buy votes and only serve to corrupt the system to the detriment of the “little guy.” Again, as someone who has worked on both of sides of this equation, I can assure you that for the vast majority of trade groups and legislators, that is simply not the case. As with any profession, there are bound to be a few bad apples but they are few and far between, especially at the state level here in Michigan.
Through the hard work of the RPAC Trustees and the lobbying team in Lansing, our association is consulted on all of the important issues facing not only the real estate industry and private property rights, but the entire business community in the state. Our ability to protect your commission from a sales tax on services or strengthen the professional standards and consumer protections as we are doing with the Agency Responsibility Act is only as strong as the commitment to raising and distributing RPAC dollars. In addition to attending candidate fundraisers, caucus dinners, and leadership meetings with the legislature, our RPAC funds allow each local association to invite their area’s legislators and challengers in for candidate interviews. These interviews are one of the most important ways for us to examine the records and statements of individual candidates and determine if we would like to recommend them for election to public office.
As well as making direct contributions to candidates, RPAC has a separate Issues Mobilization Fund that offers support or opposition to various ballot initiatives. For instance, the Michigan Association of REALTORS® work on the Price of Government last year was funded with Issues Mobilization dollars from MAR and NAR. This is especially important this year with the Eminent Domain and K-16 Coalition ballot initiatives which MAR will be involved with, and which I will be writing about in next month’s Capitol Update.
All of this is great, you might say, but how can I encourage my peers to contribute? As with any issue or activity in the Southeast Michigan, it’s my job to assist you and I am happy to do so. If you would like me to attend an office meeting, general membership meeting or orientation to speak about the importance of RPAC and what those dollars go towards each year, please let me know. Increasing awareness of RPAC and the public policy initiatives that it helps to fund is an important goal and one that all of our members should be aware of. As always, please feel free to call or email me about this column or any other issue facing the state or your local association.
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RPAC Fundraising Events
Field Directors for the Michigan Association of REALTORS® are often asked a multitude of questions on the legality and appropriateness of various RPAC fundraising events. This is a good thing as it signifies that my local associations are actively engaged in fulfilling their yearly goals! However, some of the questions come after an event has been planned and last minute changes are needed. Even worse is if a fundraising event has already occurred and corrective actions are needed after the fact. While it is rare for that to happen, we at MAR want to help you avoid such inconveniences.
In order to make your event run as smoothly as possible, we ask that you put together a simple one page summary of the idea with an estimated budget and send it to your Field Director or Brad Ward in Lansing. Many of you have wonderfully creative ideas and there are ways to make almost any event work, so long as it doesn’t entail any games of chance (raffles, card games, etc…). Working through our legal experts in Lansing will ensure a successful event for everyone involved! Thank you for your commitment to RPAC.
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Bay County Hosts Membership Meeting
Recently, the Bay County REALTOR® Association held a general membership meeting with special guests, Senator Jim Barcia, and Representative Jeff Mayes. Both Senator Barcia and Representative Mayes talked about legislation that is being debated in the Legislature that affects the Bay area community, as well as REALTORS® across Michigan. One issue that was touched on was in regard to amending the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act. Sponsored by Senator Barcia, Senate Bill 52 redefined the meaning of “rehabilitation” within the act to include additions of floor space or stories to obsolete property. This legislation stemmed directly from concerns of citizens in the area regarding the redevelopment process in Bay City.
Although the city has seen an increase in upscale housing over the last few years, commercial development has been sluggish. The city’s existing building structures do not adequately meet the needs of prospective businesses coming into the area, and the additions needed for those particular businesses did not qualify for tax incentives from the district. With the new amendment added to the Act, Bay City is sure to increase business opportunity by allowing prospective commercial clients to add onto existing structures and take advantage of tax benefits set aside for rehabilitating certain obsolete buildings.
Earlier this month, a small delegation from the Bay association joined Senator Barcia in a bill signing ceremony with Governor Granholm, creating Public Act 70 of 2006.
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May 2006 Field Report
• The Importance of RPAC
• RPAC Fundraising Events
• Bay County Hosts Membership Meeting
Tony represents:
• Ann Arbor Area
• Dearborn
• Detroit
• CBOR
• Down River
• Grosse Pointe
• Lenawee County
• Livingston County
• MCAR
• Monroe County
• North Oakland County
• Western Wayne Oakland County
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