Keeping You Connected

Assistant Director of Government Affairs

For anyone who has spent even one day or night watching PCN and the proceedings in the House and Senate chambers, the quote “laws are like sausages; it is better not to see them being made” is almost certainly true.

The legislative process is a business full of discussion and debate that can ultimately result in a law that could help or hurt you as a real estate practitioner. In order for you, as a member of the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®, to go about your normal business, the Department of Government Affairs is intrinsically connected to this world.

The department has several main components which contribute to the success of the overall legislative program. They are:

 - Legislative Agenda/Lobbying

 - Key Contacts/Grassroots

 - REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)

 - Issues Mobilization Committee

The following is an overview of the topics outlined above with the exception of RPAC, which is highlighted on page 12. 

Identifying the Issues

The largest component of the PAR Department of Government Affairs is the systematic review of legislative and regulatory initiatives for their impact on Pennsylvania’s real estate industry, and the corresponding lobbying effort.  

“As we all know, the legislative arena can and does have a significant impact on our business as REALTORS®,” said Don Roth, chair of the Business Issues Subcommittee. During a two-year session of the General Assembly, staff regularly monitors more than 500 pieces of legislation with the potential to impact the real estate industry. “The Government Affairs staff is always on top of the legislative agendas and is extremely responsive to keep our best interests in the forefront with the legislature,” Roth said.

Legislation determined to have an impact on the real estate industry and which is likely to receive serious consideration in the General Assembly is sent to members of the Legislative Planning Group and appropriate Legislative Subcommittee for review, with a request for comments and/or recommendations. It is these comments that help volunteer leadership and staff to determine the appropriate strategies to accomplish the legislative objectives of the association.

Lobbying 101

Lob· by (lob-ee) v. (1) to promote or secure the passage of (as legislation) by influencing public officials (2) to attempt to influence or sway (as a public official) toward a desired action.

Once legislation has been introduced and considered by the requisite parties at PAR, the lobbying effort begins. Briefing papers are written and educational material is prepared. When the Pennsylvania General Assembly is in session – meaning that both the Senate and the House of Representatives are convened for the transaction of business – staff is at the Capitol building lobbying to enact legislation beneficial to REALTOR® business interests and to defeat legislation harmful to the real estate industry.

“Our members should be proud to know that PAR continues to maintain its strong presence by our lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Much of the behind-the-scenes work that is done on our behalf is invaluable in creating the relationships with legislators that must be developed in order to be effective,” said Ellen Renish, chair of the Legislative Committee.

“With the substantial changes occurring in the Legislature with this year’s elections,” Roth added, “the PAR Government Affairs staff will be a vital component in educating and informing the many new elected officials as to the REALTOR® position on issues.”

Additionally, staff works to maintain relationships with affiliated industry lobbyists and their leadership. These contacts help to create the coalitions that make the REALTOR® message heard even more. “Our strong opposition to increases in the realty transfer tax is shared by many other industry related entities. The REALTOR®-led coalition of nine associations is a credit to the staff which has mobilized to oppose this legislative initiative,” noted Renish.

Contacts are “Key” to PAR Legislative Success

In addition to the primary lobbying effort by staff, the legislative success of PAR is due largely to the mobilization of its grassroots effort. With 33,000 members, PAR is recognized as influential and respected for its opinion by legislators and their staffs. 

One facet of grassroots mobilization is the key contact network where each of the 253 members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly has at least one quality REALTOR® contact to discuss real estate related matters and to have an influence in shaping public policy. Key contacts are responsible for ensuring that the REALTOR® message to the state legislature is consistent, accurate, and delivered in a timely manner. 

The most important role of a key contact is maintaining a positive, personal relationship with state legislators. These relationships provide the opportunity to attend fundraisers, coordinate disbursement of RPAC checks, respond to Calls-to-Action, attend training sessions, and volunteer on legislative campaigns. The personal relationships between individual key contacts and legislators build foundations that will increase the effectiveness of REALTORS® in the legislative process. If you have a rapport with a specific legislator and would like to be added to their Key Contact Network, visit the PAR web site at www.parealtor.org.

Politics is Your Business

When a piece of legislation that impacts the real estate industry is being considered in committee or on the floor, PAR may distribute a Call-to-Action on the issue urging REALTORS® to contact elected officials on the matter. “The Government Affairs staff keeps us up to date on current and potential legislation so that members have the ability to respond in a very timely manner to insure that we are not negatively impacted,” said Roth.

In some instances, the Call-to-Action is sent to a select group of members, such as key contacts for representatives on the House Professional Licensure Committee, or it is sent to the entire PAR membership. When legislation was introduced last year to increase the realty transfer tax, PAR sent a Call-to-Action to the general membership with the request to contact legislators and urge them to oppose any such increase. 

Members were directed to PAR’s online Legislative Action Center to send a letter to legislators in one easy step. The pre-formatted letters transmit a single, consistent message to legislators while still allowing REALTORS® the flexibility in creating a personal message. Last year, more than 12,000 letters were sent to members of the General Assembly asking them to oppose increases in the realty transfer tax.

A Look at the PAR Issues Mobilization Committee

Another facet of the PAR lobbying effort is the Issues Mobilization Committee, which provides funding to local associations/boards, appropriate PAR committees and allied organizations to conduct public advocacy campaigns. “One of the primary purposes of the committee is to be able to fund both educational and informative initiatives that affect our industry as well as the way we practice it,” said Guy Matteo, chair of the Issues Mobilization Committee.

The committee:

 - Collects and disburses contributions to support or oppose issues having a statewide impact on private property rights and/or home-ownership

 - Supports grassroots lobbying and educational efforts

 - Improves public policy by encouraging REALTORS® to take an active role in government decision-making and the legislative process.

For the past two years, the Lehigh Valley Association has defeated referendums in the city of Allentown that sought to increase the rate of the deed transfer tax beyond its current level. In both instances, the association requested funds from the committee to help educate consumers on the proposals, which were defeated.

In addition to assisting local associations/boards with their efforts, the committee has developed an archive that catalogues significant legal issues affecting REALTORS® and their clients that have arisen in localities throughout this Commonwealth.