Weekly Update to Federal Political Coordinators

Treasury Bailout

You’ve undoubtedly heard about the Department of Treasury’s $700 Billion plan to bail out Wall Street this week. While President Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson have stated that the bailout is necessary to the stability and soundness of the US economy, many on Capitol Hill have balked at its price tag and the cost to taxpayers.

Congress continues to work on a plan that will adequately protect the taxpayer while also providing the needed actions to stabilize the markets. Such stabilization is key to the ability of applicants obtaining mortgage loans and lenders having liquidity, and thus to the health of the housing market.

To see important information on the proposals available at this time, please visit REALTOR.org at:
http://www.realtor.org/gapublic.nsf/pages/gses_conservatorship?OpenDocument .
If you have questions, please feel free to contact either Tony Hutchinson at thutchinson@realtors.org or 202-383-1120 or Jeff Lischer at jlischer@realtors.org or 202-383-1117.

NAR’s Broker Involvement Program

It’s likely that you’ve heard about the Broker Involvement Program this year as it’s rolled out. Based on the “All Politics is Local” concept, we’re asking brokers to get their agents more involved in the grassroots. Much like a Call for Action (CFA) goes out from NAR, the Broker Program allows brokers to send broker-branded CFA messages to their agents, encouraging them to respond. The results have been excellent so far, and we’ve seen response rates go higher than the national average. We’d now like to reach out to you, our most politically active group of REALTORS, to take part. Are you a broker-owner? Please consider signing up for this most important program. If you’re not a broker-owner, you can still help! Please ask your broker to sign your office up so that everyone in your office can be as responsive as you are to a CFA.

If you’d like more information about the Broker Involvement Program, or to sign up, please contact Ed Lawler at elawler@realtors.org or 202-383-1156, Erin Murphy at emurphy@realtors.org or 202-383-1079 or Jackie Zaporowski at jzaporowski@realtors.org or 202-383-1091.

Tip of the week: Some of you have asked if NAR could use the current bank bailout situation to work to keep banks out of real estate permanently. While Congress will likely do little other than get this bailout bill passed before they leave for the year (to work on their campaigns), NAR this week, began running ads in all of the Capitol Hill papers to that end. To see this ad, please visit the REALTOR Action Center at:
http://www.realtoractioncenter.com/bank_ticker2.pdf . It’s probably worth putting a bug in your Member of Congress’ ear the next time you see them - food for thought is never a bad thing.

Need to get to the REALTOR Action Center? Click:
www.realtoractioncenter.com .
(Coming Soon: A brand new REALTOR Action Center. Stay Tuned.)

 

Despite Loss:  Running for Public Office was a Valuable  Experience

Gail Hartnett, Candidate District 18

      

In January 2007, I was asked if I would consider running for the State Legislature.  I had thought about it several years back but I had about 8 years of volunteer leadership in front of me.  The door was now open and “discovery” began.  Family meetings, team meetings, sessions with business friends, neighbors, party officials and lotsa prayers followed.  I believe that Authenticity, Transparency and Unity are imperative to good government.  We need people with strong convictions, no pre-determined agendas and a true desire to listen and represent our citizens.  .. I made the decision to go for it!  

My life experiences and leadership roles prepared me for the challenge.  …I found myself stretching “one more time” and doing things I have never done before.  I met people I never would have met.  I used my networking skills and raised them to yet another level.  I was proud to be a REALTOR® as I shared what we do as professionals to improve the quality of life for those in our communities.  I learned more about our schools and the teachers who are so important to our future, the issues surrounding our youth, our elderly and our businesses.  The economy, air quality, transportation, hospitals, taxes, education, home schooling, health care, horse racing just a few of the issues brought to my attention.

What I knew when I began, was that while our Legislature is in session, laws are being made every day that affect our lives and the lives of our children and loved ones.  As a REALTOR®, I understand that these laws affect our livelihoods, our way of life and the lives of those whom we serve.  What I didn’t know, was how many of us take what we have for granted.  Actually, I did know that, but it was brought home “vividly” as I continued my adventure.  

I attended Campaign Schools.  I now understand why we donate to candidates we believe are the right people for the job…..It takes money, and lots of it to market to the public and get your message out.  I understand the importance of volunteers.  I understand how important your family is and how ultimately, they are the ones who matter most. 

Let me tell you about the interviews and the questionnaires from organizations I didn’t know existed.  Sitting at a table with the Editorial Board of the newspaper with your opponent sitting right beside you…that was a treat….wow….knowing that you “knew your stuff”, but feeling that you just weren’t “on”… …then reading the paper two days later and getting their endorsement …that was a high!

Going door to door actually meeting voters…that became my new weekend, evening and sometimes weekday activity.…the district was a lot bigger than I thought when I started this.    

The Primary was May 27^th.  We did not prevail.  We ran a good, positive campaign. 

 

What have I learned from this?  A question I always pose to those whom I mentor when things don’t go as planned.  I have documented the process of my campaign and will use it in the future to help others move into positions of influence in our communities.  Good will come from my experiences.  I have met incredible people with valid issues…I have had the support of the business community and many, many others and I will serve in some way to assist in the important work that needs to be done.

Two important messages:

1) WE NEED GOOD PEOPLE…. Okay GOOD PEOPLE…step up to the plate and Run for office!

2) GET OUT AND VOTE…don’t let anything stop you!

Was it a good experience?  It was a GREAT experience!