NYSAR’s Government Affairs department protects REALTOR interests at the state capitol. Our staff works to promote pro-REALTOR legislation and to defeat legislation that would adversely affect you and the real estate industry. We advocate before the governor’s office, legislature and state agencies including the Department of State. The Government Affairs team is constantly working to support legislation to make the housing marketplace stronger and your bottom line more profitable. In addition, we oversee the REALTORS Political Action Committee (RPAC) which provides financial support to pro-REALTOR candidates for public office.
To read the 2010 NYSAR Government Affairs Annual Report, click here.
Contact us!
(518) 463-0300 ext. 217
govt@nysar.com
Calling all brokers: Please sign up for the Broker Involvement Program!
NYSAR is calling on principal brokers to bring decision-making authority, strong leadership and their agents' voices to Congress by signing up for the Broker Involvement Program. We thank those New York State brokers listed here for taking the initiative to join this effort.
The Broker Involvement Program empowers broker-owners to alert their agents to key REALTOR issues. When brokers speak, agents listen and respond. By urging REALTORS to respond to NAR's Calls for Action, we can shine a bright light in Congress on important real estate issues such as protecting the Mortgage Interest Deduction. Please contact Mike Kelly in NYSAR Government Affairs 518-463-0300 x215 or mkelly@nysar.com to sign up for the program, acquire flyers or to find out more information. Program details are available here.
NYSAR launches Call for Action Flyer
NYSAR has launched a Call for Action informational flyer designed to promote the Call for Action program to members. The flyer includes pertinent details about the program and outlines how simple it is for members to respond to Calls for Action. To view the flyer,
click here.
Senate Democrats file lawsuit over redistricting
Sen. Martin Dilan, D-Brooklyn, is among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the state Legislative Taskforce on Redistricting (LATFOR), of which he is a member. The lawsuit seeks to order LATFOR to drop its proposal to add a 63rd Senate District within the state. The controversial proposal to add a seat is based on population shifts throughout the state and was shrouded in controversy from the day it was released two weeks ago. The lawsuit was filed in Supreme Court in Manhattan. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has maintained that he would veto any partisan redistricting bill and has vowed to attempt a constitutional amendment that would require independent redistricting in the future.
Call for Action: Tell Congress to use housing dollars for housing
Congress is debating how to pay for a 10-month extension of the payroll tax cut, an extension of unemployment benefits, and increased Medicare payments to doctors. REALTORS need to remind Congress that paying for these programs by raising the cost of housing is not acceptable. REALTORS oppose any increase in the fees borrowers pay to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and increasing FHA mortgage premiums to pay for non-housing programs.
We need you to tell Congress to “do no harm” to housing. Increasing the cost of a mortgage is not the way to end the housing downturn. Please take action today by clicking here.
President Obama's plan to help responsbile homeowners and heal the housing market
In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama laid out a blueprint for an America built to last, calling for action to help responsible borrowers and support a housing market recovery. In an effort to address some of the issues facing the housing market, the President has put forward a plan that uses a broad range of tools to help homeowners, supporting middle-class families and the economy.
Some highlights of the plan include: broad based refinancing to help responsible borrowers save an average of $3,000 per year; a homeowner bill of rights; a pilot project to transition foreclosed property into rental housing to help stabilize neighborhoods and improve home prices; rehabilitating neighborhoods; and reducing foreclosures.
To read a full overview of the President’s plan, click here.
NAR releases 2012 legislative priority briefing sheet
NAR has released a list of 2012 legislative priorities including maintaining the MID, restructuring of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, expedition of short sales by major banks, continuing the National Flood Insurance Program and help for the commercial real estate industry. Click here to read the full list of NAR's 2012 legislative priorities.
NYSAR 2012 Legislative Priorities
NAR RPAC Legislative Priorities
NYS Assembly Home Page
NYS Senate Home Page
US House of Representatives Home Page
US Senate Home Page
Pamper yourself on Valentine's Day in the RPAC Lounge at the Desmond!
How about a special Valentine's Day manicure and massage? Looking to update your photo head shots? The RPAC Lounge offers these services and more!
Visit the RPAC Lounge on Tuesday, February 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Desmond, where you'll gain access to food, beverage, business facilities and more.
Massages available from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Manicures available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Professional photographer available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Food and beverage, Internet access, computers, printers, cell phone chargers, cable TV and newspapers available from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Enjoy all these services in the RPAC Lounge with a $250 RPAC pledge or investment.
Click here for more details or to preregister. Contact Political Affairs Coordinator Derick King at
dking@nysar.com or 518-463-0300 x238 for more information.
Get your bids in now for the February RPAC auction item - Portable Document & Photo Scanner!
RPAC of New York is featuring monthly online silent auctions. These auctions are a way to contribute to RPAC while contending for a great prize! Bids may be emailed to
dking@nysar.com or placed via phone 518-463-0300 x238. The silent auction will close on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. The winning bidder will be announced on March 1 and contacted via email or phone. Individual members and their respective local boards will receive RPAC credit for contributions made through the RPAC online silent auction.
February item
Brookstone iConvert® Portable Document and Photo Scanner
Digitizes your receipts, letters, recipes, photos and more - fast! Brookstone’s cordless Portable Document and Photo Scanner creates sharp, photo-quality digital files up to 600 x 600 dpi from any image. It captures full-color scans of photos, documents, letters, business cards, cookbook recipes, wallpaper patterns and more. Just glide the scanner over virtually any surface, then download your images to PC, Mac or other device via included USB cable or your microSD card, up to 32 GB. You don't have to be a computer expert to use this scanner. With just a touch, it delivers color scans in as few as three seconds and black-and-white scans in as few as two seconds. The time-setting feature lets you date your scans down to the second.
Current High Bid: $200.00
Bidding Increments: $20.00
Email bids to
dking@nysar.com or call Derick King at 518-463-0300 x238.
Congrats to Karen Peebles!
Congratulations to Karen Peebles from the Jefferson Lewis Board of REALTORS for submitting the high bid of $125 for the Magellan GPS. Karen has been an RPAC President's Club and Capitol Club investor for the past several years. Thank you Karen for your support of RPAC!
Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS, the New York State Association of REALTORS or any of its local boards or associations will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70 percent of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your NYSAR PAC reaches its PAC goal 30 percent is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after NYSAR PAC reaches its RPAC goal it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.
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