As tempted as I am to fire off a snappy (read: snippy) response to some of the misunderstandings contained in Frank LLosa’s recent post about RPAC, I’m reminded of Seth Godin’s admonition that miscommunication is almost always the fault of the communicator, not the recipient. So if Frank has his facts wrong about something VAR does…especially something so essential to his business as RPAC…it’s likely VAR’s fault for not communicating more thoroughly or frequently or clearly.

So, herewith, a primer on RPAC for them what want or need to know:

1. RPAC is the largest PAC in America. RPAC of Virginia is the biggest business PAC in Virginia. Big deal? Heck, yeah. When it comes to the funding of a Political Action Committee, size matters…at least it does to candidates and elected officials. The better funded your PAC, the more likely elected officials are to think twice before doing something that would negatively impact your real estate business, or more importantly your customers and clients. It’s the “carry a big stick” theory of politics, and it’s effective. That’s why we beg and plead with you to invest every year. Because it’s the only protection you’ve got against bad law and regulation. Sure, you can give individually to whomever you wish…but where’s the big stick? (And yes, that makes it all the more imperative that we consider and develop carefully our policy positions so that they’re about what’s good for Virginia, good for our communities, good for consumers…and not solely self serving).

2. RPAC of Virginia gives fairly evenly to Democrats and Republicans. National RPAC does, too. We’re not affiliated with a political party. We represent candidates who support private property rights and fair land use policies and housing opportunity and free enterprise. In the recent General Assembly election cycle here in Virginia, we supported more Republicans than Democrats…which makes sense, considering the Republicans were the party controlling both houses of the General Assembly at the time. With the Dems now in control in the Senate, I suspect it’ll be different next time around.

3. RPAC is governed by about 20 trustees who are REALTORS just like (most of) you. They run real estate businesses AND they’re active in state and local politics. So when funding decisions are made, do remember that they’re made by folks who do what you do for a living and understand the issues confronting your profession.

4. This is a biggy: RPAC funds can only be used for CANDIDATES. We’re prohibited by law from using it to lobby; we’re prohibited from using it in issues campaigns (say, to support or oppose a grantors tax increase). Lobbying and issues campaigns are funded with your dues dollars, not with RPAC funds. You invest in RPAC so that your association has funds to help elect candidates who support what’s best for your business and for homeownership in Virginia. That’s pretty much all that your RPAC money is used for. The vast majority of RPAC overhead costs — staff, recognition, brochures, etc — are paid for from your VAR dues dollars, not from the PAC.

5. Before the RPAC Trustees decide to support/endorse a candidate (which usually means we give them money or in-kind campaign support, but not always), we interview the candidates to determine which is best for your interests. We don’t pay attention to a candidate’s stand on social issues; instead, we ONLY look at his or her position on real estate issues. We almost always interview in races for an open seat. In races where an incumbent who has supported your issues is running, we’re less likely to interview; after all, such a candidate has a track record, and we can tell if he’s been for us or against us. On the other hand when an incumbent hasn’t supported us, we either stay out of the race, or we look for someone to challenge him/her in the election. Likewise, most local associations interview candidates before they make endorsements in local races.

6. Which reminds me: Of every dollar you invest in RPAC, 30 cents goes to NAR for use in federal (Congress and US Senate) races. The remaining 70 cents is used in Virginia for statewide and General Assembly races AND in local races (and the local portion is controlled by your local association, but their rules and process for candidate contributions are nearly identical to VAR’s)

7. There are serious limits to what National RPAC can give to Federal candidates (Congress and US Senate). I’ll spare you the gory details, but it totals $15,000 per candidate per election cycle. National RPAC does NOT get involved in the presidential race. In Virginia, however, there are no limits. Still, I think you’ll find the size of our contributions to be in line with those of other groups. There’s a limit, of course, to what the market will bear, and any contribution that seems larger than the market will put us in every newspaper in the state, and…let’s just say the coverage wont be flattering. You can find a record of all political contributions in Virginia at http://vpap.org.

8. Despite the conclusion one might draw from the National Home Builders Association’s recent decision to cease all funding of Congressional candidates until Congress does what the builders want, it’s not about buying votes. Sometimes I wish it was that easy, but I’m glad it’s not. What it’s about is electing thoughtful officials who’ll at least listen when we come to them with good, sound policy proposals. It’s an open door. But if we’re not fighting to elect that kind of candidate, there are plenty of other groups out there with different ideas from you who’ll fill the void with their brand of candidate, and you’ll be out in the cold. If we’re not engaged in political advocacy, we can’t effectively represent you. That’s what RPAC is for.

That’s enough for now. Three last things:

> You’ll find a really cool member-produced video about RPAC on VAR’s website. It’s short, it’s current, and it’s worth your time.

> Here’s a list of 2007 VAR legislative successes, powered by VAR’s first rate lobbying team and your support, but undergirded by the “big stick” that is RPAC. Do note how many of the issues we’re invlved in aren’t only about us, about REALTORS®; rather, they’re about better communities and moving Virginia forward.

> Lastly…I do apologize for being so pedantic. I understand that politics can be an unpleasant and divisive business. But to those REALTORS® who would recoil from it and refer to RPAC as something nasty and say that politics is distasteful and REALTORS should have no part of it, I say this: When they declare that ditch on your investment property a wetland, and they put a tax on your commissions, and they decide to fund the bulk of transportation infrastructure on the backs of homebuyers and sellers, and implement all manner of regulation that negatively impacts your bottom line, you’re going to want to say “Where was RPAC?” And I’ll have to bite my tongue to keep from replying, “Where were YOU?”

Bringing backroom discussions to the forefront appears to be part of the mission for VARBuzz.com , so I thank them for this opportunity!

Back to the post… I’m torn.

Give to NVRPAC and Virginia RPAC or not?

I’d like to discuss my understanding of what NVRPAC is (I could be wrong and I’m looking to your comments to correct me), and my dilemma on whether to contribute (which is not tax deductible).

NV/RPAC stands for Northern Virginia REALTOR® Political Action Committee. Their slogan is “Your bi-partisan voice in politics.” What else? I don’t know. A search for them brings up only 3 pages (here is one). They don’t own NVRPAC.com and they don’t have an interactive blog giving us updates on what they are doing. It has been run by Mary Beth Coya, the Vice President of Public & Government Affairs for many years.

I still don’t get it. To me it seems like “Give us money, don’t ask why, but we will push the REALTOR agenda. Thanks for the $200,000, now we can give that to candidates so they will listen to us.”

Is giving money to candidates a necessary evil?

So here is where the dilemma starts.

1. I frequently disagree with the REALTOR agenda. For example, recently a transportation bill, which would raise taxes (backed by NVRPAC), was shot down as being unconstitutional. If my political belief is that government is too big, and we need less taxes, how do I justify giving them $100 to back something I am against?
2. I also disagree with the message the REALTOR® associations put out, like the “It’s a great time to buy or sell a home” campaign. Yet two years later we are flooded with Short Sales and foreclosures.
3. And here is the big picture issue that I have… Where exactly does the money go?The weblink above says, “Contributions go to candidates who are supportive of private property rights and who are sensitive to the REALTOR® point-of-view on key issues.”

Is it to help candidates win, or is it to buy a voice?

Do we give even $1 to a candidate that is ahead 30% in the polls? If so, it doesn’t seem like we are helping him win, instead it seems like we are buying the right to be heard.

One can easily say, “That is how it works in DC, either play ball or lose.”

But I am fundamentally against a Congressperson accepting $100,000 from a special interest group, that they are expected to regulate.

Yes we want our voices heard, but why do we have to give them $100,000 for that right? It seems more like a bribe. (Update 3-3-08: See comments for clarification on this number. Most donations are much smaller, but they have been as high as $50,000 for one candidate in one year and over $80,000 for a few candidates over a few years)

Maybe that is the process in DC, but what if you oppose the process?

So this is my personal debate. I’d love to see your opinion. And if you still want to donate, here is a link to contribute to NVRPAC online. Actually they only accept contributions by mail or fax or check. Cutting edge!

The hope is that this post will INCREASE contributions if that is what the REALTOR wants. I’d rather them contribute because they understand and accept the process, and not because they are told to, or are offered a raffle or a trip to Jamaica.

And here is a video on Youtube from Virginia’s RPAC.

I look forward to the discussion. I hope we all agree that discussing this is the best way to understanding it.

- Written by Frank Borges LL0SA- Broker FranklyRealty.com

Update 3-3-08: P.S. The comments are better than the post. Don’t miss them!

The Williamsburg Association of REALTORS plans their day of visits to their legislators in the General Assembly Building.

Last night I was exhausted but too excited to sleep, that’s what VAR Legislative & Education Conference does to you! My head was spinning with ideas shared, “friends” met for first time face to face, RPAC, so I was up late in the night writing….

Wow - I’m just wrapping up day two of four here in Richmond at our VAR Legislative & Education Conference.
Click here for Full Schedule of events.
I’m really too tired to be writing this blog but also too excited not to write it.

Day one was a long “1/2 day”.

My first session was on Policy Manuals taught by VAR Legal Guru: Lem Marshall. While geared mostly to the Broker Office poffice manuals, I took many notes about things that also would relate to our Local Association Manual.

Virginia Managers Council hosted Broker Roundtables - speed dating style. 4 tables each with a “date” or host with a pre-selected topic of discussion. Topics included “How to keep a positive attiutude in the office” (my personal office favorite method is to hold a purring cat), Operating a Virtual Office, Business Planning for Office & Agents & Managing the Brokerage Books. More details to come in a later post.

Day 2 has been a full day. This is the day that REALTORS storm the Hill. Morning Brief on important issues & Bills currently in the house & senate then the march or bus ride to the hill for “face time” with your representatives. While I attended the briefing, I decided to take the morning to meet with our local association executive & make plans for our roll out to membership of our new proposed Strategic Plan. Then to meet with Harrisonburg’s Association 2007 President. The exchange of information & spirit of cooperation is profound. Sallye - a licensed VAR Instructor offered to help with some education programs being developed.

RPAC Awards Luncheon and wrap up of the Day on the HIll. VAR’s is the second largest PAC in the state and a well respected for being the voice of property right issues. RPAC goal for this year is lofty & was kicked off with quite the performance by “THE RPAC DIVAS” - you really had to be there for that one!

IMAG - Information Management Advoacy Group. This is my first year on one of the AGs, I must say I am impressed with the depth of knowledge of both the volunteers & the staff liasons involved in IMAG. (I’m very proud to see 3 members of my VLA 2007 class members at the table.) Ben Martin, CAE Communications Director unleashed the social media bug on VAR last fall. VARbuzz.com, VAR Facebook Group, VAR Linkedin Group are all part of the official VAR social media plan. Jovan Hackley, the new Marketing Manager is sharp! look for the new “TOP 10″ postcard - (download the pdf here). Just wait until you see the new member plan he is working on! I’d be remiss not to mention Lisa Noon, VP Marketing & Communications & Scott Rogers, Chair of IMAG.

A side note: There are a large number of Virginian REALTORS that participate in social media conversations on a daily basis with a national “group” of REALTORS. We share market info, tech tools & advice, send & recieve referrals, talk about our day, share jokes and troubles - we consider ourselves friends BUT many have never met face to face. Today several of us met face to face for the first time. Pretty cool experience even if I am the old lady of the bunch! Make sure to read:
A Cynic Converted … “Hello. My name is Jeremy, and I was a cynic.”

As if that’s not enough next was a video blog interview with Ben Martin talking with Tony Arko, Technology Chair DAAR & myself about the use of the Ning platform of social media as a communication tool for our local REALTOR associations. We’ve been sharing information, tips, tools but had never met in person. Boy do I have some great ideas for our new Information Management Committe & their website project!

A quick visit to the I-81 Corridor meeting. The AEs had a few questions & input for IMAG new member project & that wrapped up the daylight hours of the day.

A fast run to drop off computer, then on to the Legisaltive Reception to rub elbows with our elected officials. AND rub elbows is the right term, the pre-registration numbers for this year indicate this will be a record breaking attendence.

Finally, dinner with 3 members of VLA 2007. Then back to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow.

First meeting tomorrow - 7:30 am. Night all! I can’t wait to meet Michael Wurzer, FlexMLS, who will speaking at the MLS Forum!

Note: this is cross posted on Musings from the Valley of Virginia