RPAC
REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)
The REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) is the best way a REALTOR® can protect their business. RPAC is the only grassroots and issues mobilizing force that exists to protect and promote the tradition of home ownership and real estate investment.
By contributing to RPAC, you are able to support REALTOR®-friendly legislators who believe in our industry and believe in protecting private property rights, preserving the American dream of home ownership, fighting for tax reforms and reducing burdensome regulations on our business.
RPAC's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Keeping Informed on REALTOR® Issues
With every media outlet in Michigan reporting news with varying degrees of information, it is hard to keep up to date on issues affecting the real estate industry. The Advocacy page on the MAR Website contains useful information on matters affecting the real estate profession. Whether it is specific legislation, or general economic proposals being circulated in Lansing, the Advocacy page is the place to go to stay informed. Our special 'Under the Dome' section highlights current legislation and budget concerns affecting the real estate industry in Michigan.
2007 RPAC Contributors
There are three categories of contributors:
There are two ways you can contribute:
- RPAC 1: proceeds are used to support candidates for local or state office only. RPAC 1 can accept only REALTOR® and Affiliate Members checks, VISA, Mastercard, or cash up to $20.
- RPAC 2: proceeds are used to support or oppose ballot question initiatives in which MAR or its local boards have an interest. RPAC 2 can accept both personal and corporate contributions from REALTORS® and Affiliate members checks, VISA, Mastercard, or cash up to $20.
2008 Goals
- A continued fight against the taxing of your commissions via an expansion of the current sales tax
- Refining the Michigan Business Tax to make sure the real estate industry is not excessively burdened by the state's new business tax
- Passage of the Commercial Broker Lien Act, allowing for a commercial broker to place a lien on a property for the non-payment of commissions
- Passage of the Agency Responsibility Act outlining the duties a licensee owes a client and the services that the client can wave via a limited services agency agreement
- Working with interested parties to combat mortgage fraud and other unlicensed activities
- Passage of legislation to eliminate the need to post wall licenses along with the successful issuance of pocket photo identification cards by DLEG
- Restructuring of the Real Estate Appraisers Board to coincide with updated Appraiser designations
- Passage of legislation that clarifies industry related business does not have to be under the Professional Services Corporation Act
- Enactment of cound long-term property tax reforms
2007 Accomplishments
- Defeated Governor Granholm's 2-Penny Plan after most successful state-wide Call to Action ever
- Defeated the October sales tax expansion by forming the 'Ax the Tax' Coalition
- Saved REALTORS® from a 900% tax increase under the originally proposed Michigan Business Tax (MBT)
- Held off an expansion of the transfer tax
- Expanded the Real Estate Enforcement Fund to allow the Attorney General to fight unlicensed activity
- Defeated the point of sale septic inspection mandates
- Successfully advocated against the inclusion of real estate licenses under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act
- Passed increased appraiser education standards
- Defeated legislation to retroactively recapture 'additions' of commercial rental property
- Defeated legislation to increase county record fees