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2009 State And Local Issues Committee
National Association of REALTORS®
2009 REALTORS® Conference
Manchester Grand Hyatt
Manchester Ballroom C, Second Level
Friday, November 13, 2009
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Chair: David Wluka (MA)
Vice Chair: Bob Snowden (WY)
Committee Liaison: Chris Polychron (AR)
Committee Executive: Bob McNamara (DC)
I. Call To Order
A. Opening Statement - David Wluka, Chair
B. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
C. Introductions
II. Approval of Previous Meeting's Minutes
Previous
Meeting's Minutes
III. Unfinished Business
A. Transportation Toolkit
Transportation
B. Public School Toolkit - report of Working Group
Public
Schools
C. School of the Future Design Competition
Design
Competition
IV. New Business
A. Transfer Tax Research
B. Transfer Tax Campaigns
C.A.R. Position
There have been concerted efforts taken in the California legislature to
either ban or limit PTTs. Nonetheless, it was made very clear during
the last session on the California legislature that there was not enough
political will to move these pieces of legislation and that a compromise
was going to be difficult at best. Due to this political reality,
C.A.R.’s PTT Task Force took policy at the October 2008 meetings to take a
“wait and see” attitude.
The Private Transfer Tax Task Force presented their final recommendations, which were that: “C.A.R. will take a “wait and see” attitude with regard to sponsoring legislation to prevent or regulate the imposition of PTTs. Specifically, the sponsorship of any such legislation should occur if the makeup of the legislature changes significantly enough that it is politically feasible that the legislation will win approval.”
C. Transportation Authorization Update
In February, as part of the economic stimulus legislation, there was $47
billion included to fund transportation issues. Building on this momentum,
House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Oberstar released a
"committee print" of a transportation authorization bill in June totaling
$500 billion over five years. Although this would be the largest
authorization in history, it would only begin to address the nation's
deferred infrastructure spending needs. Spending on this scale will require
tax changes, most likely an increase in the federal tax on motor fuels. NAR
policy supports increasing this tax and indexing it for inflation. Other
sources of revenue under discussion include tolls, public-private
partnerships, and bond financing via a national infrastructure bank. NAR
has been working as a member of the Transportation for America coalition to
shape the next authorization bill and to build support within the coalition
for NAR's policies such as increasing fuel taxes, increasing funding for
public transportation, and transportation planning that addresses the needs
of all transportation users. Through the coalition, we have begun
discussions with staff of the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Senate Banking
Committee (has jurisdiction over transit programs). Coalition spokespersons
have begun appearing as witnesses at congressional committee hearings.
D. Smart Growth Program Update
The healthier a community, the better the environment for REALTORS®.
Keeping a community attractive, livable, and functioning well is a complex
task. Who better to be stewards of their community than REALTORS®! Whether
your community is grappling with transportation and land use issues,
crowded schools, or open space, or working to bring vacant properties back
to productive use, NAR’s Smart Growth program has resources to help you and
your association plant seeds that will pay dividends for years to come
E. Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource Certification
Certification
F. Regional Issues - Committee Discussion
V. Adjournment
