The Governmental Affairs Department has seen much activity and positive results from our
legislative and relationship building efforts at the national, state, and local levels which you'll see in the report below: From the U. S. Capitol
In response to NAR's Call for Action regarding S. 256, Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, both Texas
U. S. Senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, voted "yes" on NAR's legislative priority. See HAR's letters to our
Senators:
http://www.har.com/govtaffairs/senators_letters_2005.cfm. Four provisions contained in the legislation important to Realtors are: it
eliminates the cap on single-asset bankruptcies, provides protections for shopping center owners, closes the loophole which allows
rental housing tenants to avoid eviction, and requires homeowner and condo association fees to be non-dischargeable. In the House of
Representatives, the bill has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial
Services.
On March 16, NAR-backed Small Business Health Fairness Act, H.R.525, was approved in the House Education and Work Force Committee
along partisan lines. Floor activity probably will not occur until after Easter recess. H. R. 525 would create association health
plans (AHPs), which would allow small businesses to band together through associations and purchase quality health care at a lower
cost. The AHP bill would increase small businesses’ bargaining power with health care providers, give them freedom from costly
state-mandated benefit packages, and lower their overhead costs by as much as 30 percent - benefits that large corporations and
unions already enjoy because of their larger economies of scale.
NAR ACTION CENTER REGISTRATION IS MAJOR PUSH OF NAR PRESIDENT AL MANSELL:
MEMBER CFA RESPONSE VERY IMPORTANT NAR NAR President Al Mansell has established one of the organization’s most ambitious goals
in some time: 500,000 REALTORS registered on the NAR Action Center by the end of this year. This month NAR will begin regular
monthly reporting of state Action Center registration numbers and member response rates to NAR Calls For Action. Also, at the NAR
Mid Year Meeting in May, NAR will recognize those states meeting grassroots goals (50% NAR Action Center registration and 3%
response rates for Calls For Action) at both the Member-Director Forum and the NAR BOD. To meet the challenge, HAR Governmental
Affairs staff registered all HAR Directors for participation in the NAR Action Center. Visit www.NARActionCenter.com and see how
your TREPAC investments work to put more money in your pocket and make your life easier.
FPC GRASSROOTS TRAINING: IT’S MARCH MADNESS
Federal Political Coordinators (FPCs) appointed for the 109th Congress are being trained in NAR’s grassroots program, with
March 31 as the target to finish all training, including the new On-Line grassroots course. On March 8, eligible FPCs were advised
by email of their opportunity to train On-Line. The course can be completed in under one-hour, and/or over a period of time, and is
required one time at the beginning of each new Congress. HAR's Federal Political Coordinators include: Vicki Fullerton for
Congressman Kevin Brady, John Nichols for Congressman John Culberson, Mary Starr for Congressman Tom DeLay, Shad Bogany for
Congressman Al Green, Carlos Garcia for Congressman Gene Green, Gerald Womack for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, DeLora Wilkinson
for Congressman Ted Poe, and George Stephens for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Congressman Michael McCaul's FPC is Marie Reed of
Austin, Congressman McCaul's hometown, and Senator Cornyn's FPC is Dwight Hale of San Antonio, Senator Cornyn's hometown. Hill
Visits in Washington, D. C. are scheduled for May 11 and 12. As in the past, TAR staff will schedule appointments with our U. S.
Representatives and Senators. Side note--Freshman Congressman McCaul recently signed on as a co-sponsor of H. R. 111, the Community
Choice in Real Estate Act!
At the State Capitol
Realtor Day at the State Capitol is Tuesday, April 12. Hill Visit participants have the opportunity to purchase tickets for a BBQ
luncheon served under a big top tent on the Capitol grounds for $10 each. All tickets much be purchased in advance as state law
prohibits the sales of tickets on the Capitol grounds. Please let me know of your participation so that we can plan accordingly.
Comfortable Coach USA buses have been reserved for you and will be departing the morning of April 12 from four convenient locations.
The tentative Hill Visit schedule is below:
Tentative Austin Hill Visit Schedule
April 11th, 2005 at the Hyatt Hotel Austin, Texas
2:00 - 5:00 pm Team Captain Briefing--Texas 1
5:00 - 7:00 pm Hill Visit Reception--Texas 5 – 7
April 12th, 2005 -- Austin, Texas
7:00 am - 12:00 N 12 TAR Registration Desk Texas Foyer
7:15 - 10:00 am 13 Hill Visit Kick-off & Continuous Briefings Texas 1
8:00 am - 6:00 pm 14 TAR Open House TAR Building
10:00 am - 1:00 pm 15 Briefing Room Hill Country A - C
11:30 am - 1:00 pm 16 Lunch on the Capitol Grounds Southwest Lawn of the Capitol
12:00 N - 5:00 pm 17 Report Filing & Debriefing Capitol or TAR Bldg.
On the Local Front
PAAG and GAAG - The Political Affairs Advisory Group and Governmental Affairs Advisory Group volunteers held a joint
kickoff and orientation meeting on March 8. The orientation was necessary due to the record number of volunteers who have offered to
serve on PAAG (31) and GAAG (15). Houston City Council candidates are asking for HAR's endorsement in the Nov. 8 election. The PAAG,
chaired by Minnette Boesel, will be conducting interviews later this year for candidates running in the open seats due to term
limits: District B held by Carol Mims Galloway, District C held by Mark Goldberg, At-Large Position 1 held by Mark Ellis, and
At-Large Position 2 held by Gordon Quan. The PAAG's next meeting to review these races will be March 31 from 2:00-3:30 in the Large
Conference Room.
HUD - Houston's new HUD manager, Dr. Edward Pringle, will be meeting with HAR members on Thursday, March 24, at
10:00 in the HAR Board Room. Shad Bogany will chair the meeting which will help to kick off the new local housing initiatives
committee which is in the development stage. In addition, the new director for the Housing and Community Development Department,
Milton Wilson Jr., accepted the invitation to make opening remarks at the morning sessions of the April 2 home buying seminar.
New Member Orientation - Houston City Council Members are responding well to the invitation extended to them to speak briefly at New
Member Orientation. This initiative is to introduce new members to their involvement in the political process. Council Members Carol
Alvarado, Ronald Green, Pam Holm, and M. J. Khan either have made their presentations or are scheduled to appear at New Member
Orientation. Toni Nelson is also speaking about TREPAC and encouraging new members' involvement in HAR's political activity.
Realtors Hear from their Elected Officials at Area Networking Meetings - Council Member Holm was the guest speaker at the March 15
Westside Area Networking Meeting. Comptroller Annise Parker is the featured speaker for Westside's April 19 luncheon. Councilman
Michael Berry is scheduled to address the Near Northwest breakfast on May 12.
TREPAC
Upcoming Events
March has been a busy month for TREPAC. The Greater Northwest Easter Basket Auction on March 9 raised nearly $6,000 for TREPAC. The
Bay Area Talent Show held March 10 at the South Shore Harbour Resort raised nearly $7,000 and was a complete sucess. Everyone was
very excited about this new event and already have their acts planned out for next year. Special Recognition goes to Cherie Johnson
with American Home Shield for her help
March 17 will be Fort Bend's Denim & Diamonds event with an auction, fashion show and Champagne Sweepstakes. HAR TREPAC Trustee
Judy Monroe and I will keep you posted on the success of the event.
In April, we will have the Katy Crawfish Boil and for Commercial and Intown members we are working on an event involving Ed Wulfe
and his plans for the Pavilion on Post Oak.
On May 23 is the Montgomery County Day At Carlton Woods and on June 16, we are playing golf at Redstone Golf Club. So mark your
calendars!
Motions
1. It is moved and seconded to create a local TREPAC recognition level entitled the HAR Diamond R for $1,500 level
investors.
Rationale: The gap between $1,000 and $2,500 is large and several of our Sterling R ($1,000) investors have claimed
that they would be interested in increasing their investment, but are unable to at the $2,500 level. This added level would increase
recognition to those who currently invest over $1,000 and may encourage other members to invest at that same level. The added
recognition would only be received at the local level, in HAR's magazine, printed literature and website. The state and national
associations will continue to recognize the individuals at the Sterling R level.
2. It is moved and seconded to redesign the wall in the Large Conference room to recognize those members that have invested
in TREPAC at the Sterling R level and above for the past two years.
Rationale:The wall is becoming overcrowded and the prestige once associated with this recognition is being lost.
The first step in the process will be to remove all photos, then replace the wallpaper, acquire new lettering entitled "
Distinguished TREPAC Members" and then to hang those that should be recognized for the past two years. All members for whom we
have a photo will be notified of the change in procedure and be given the option to keep their photo.
