TREPAC

AGENDA• TREPAC Mission Statement

• What is TREPAC?

• Why do we need it?

• What does TREPAC do for our industry?

• Two Types of PAC funds

• Where do your PAC dollars go?

• Who decides which candidates get TREPAC money?

• TREPAC working with other governmental affairs programs

• A-Team

• REALTOR PARTY

• Invest in TREPAC and Spread the Word!

TREPAC MISSION STATEMENT

TREPAC/Texas Association of Realtors® Political Action Committee shall raise and disburse funds to achieve the governmental affairs objectives of the Texas Association of Realtors® and to create a favorable business environment where Realtors® can make a profit, rights of property owners are protected and the free enterprises system flourishes.

WHAT IS TREPAC?• Non-partisan political action committee

• TREPAC is a voluntary, nonprofit organization that supports candidates for federal, state, and local office who demonstrate their support for property rights and the real estate profession

• The political action committee is insurance to protect your livelihood and industry. Many issues affecting real estate are continuously debated on the national, state and local levels. Getting involved in TREPAC will ensure that the REALTOR® voice is heard in Congress and at the Capitol.

TREPAC

• TREPAC is the largest political action committee in the state raising over $2.7M in 2009 with 43% participation.

TREPAC CONTRIBUTIONS

TEXAS POWER PAC’S2005-2006

1) Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee: TREPAC $4.9M

2) Texans for Lawsuit Reform: TLR $3.8M

3) Texas Democratic Trust: $2M

4) Texans for Insurance Reform: $1.7M

5) Associated Republicans: $1.5M

TEXAS PAC’S“Who’s in the Money”

2007-20081) Texans for Greg Abbott: $8M

2) TAR Issues Mobilization PAC $6.5M

3) TREPAC: $3.9M

4) John Whitmire: $3.3M

5) Tom Craddick: $3.4M

6) Texans for Rick Perry: $2.9M

7) Friends of Susan Combs: $2.8M

8) Texans for Lawsuit Reform: $2.7M

Source: Texas Ethics Commission

$10.4M

WHY DO WE NEEDTREPAC?

Invest online at TexasRealtors.com/TREPAC

WHY BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT?

• TREPAC enables the real estate industry to approach legislative matters of vital concern through a well-organized, well-informed united front.

• Through TREPAC, Realtors® and others are able to pool their resources and help elect candidates on a local, state, and national basis.

WHAT DOES TREPAC DO FOR OUR INDUSTRY?

• TREPAC allows for the election of persons who are respondent to our specific needs in the real estate industry.

• By having a united front, TREPAC can have a greater impact on elected officials because of the sheer number of participating members from around the state.

2006 SPECIAL SESSION

Choose how you want to

spread it

                                                                                                                                                                                     

Pick a message below to spread:

If you don't like new taxes you're going to like new real estate taxes even less.

Some county tax appraisers thought your vehicle should be taxed for mixed use.

You say your revenues are down this year?

There's a lot of talk about appraisal reform on the table at the Capitol.

Tired of being nickel-and-dimed?

We're not California or Florida.

 How to spread the word | Tools | How Texas REALTORS® can invest

Federal law prohibits soliciting contributions from individuals who are not REALTOR® members. Information disseminated in the public domain about TREPAC might be considered a solicitation, therefore investments received from non-REALTOR® members through this online campaign will be returned.

TREPAC

Administrative

TREPAC Cont.

• TREPAC is the largest political action committee in the state raising over $2.7M in 2009 with 43% participation.

• TREPAC is administered by a 43-member board of trustees who are responsible for all PAC operations and financial disbursements.

• Trustees are elected from each of the TAR regions throughout the state to serve and represent the local associations in that region

WHERE YOUR

TREPACDOLLARS

GO?

WHERE YOUR TREPACDOLLARS GO:

• Local Board Membership x TAR Fair Share = Quota

• Ex: HAR Association– 24,573 members x $35 = $860,055

WHERE YOUR TREPACDOLLARS GO:

• Before each local Board and Association reaches their annual contribution quota, all eligible funds are divided into three categories:

Before 75% of Local Quota is Met

30%

50%

20%

NAR

TAR

Local

WHERE YOUR TREPACDOLLARS GO:

• After each local Board and Association reach their annual contribution quota, all eligible funds are divided into three categories:

After 75% of Local Quota is Met

30%

10%60%

NAR

TAR

Local

TWO TYPES OF FUNDS:Corporate & Personal

• As dictated by Federal law, dollars given by an incorporated entity cannot be used for campaigns, but can pay for the administrative cost of raising the funds.

• Personal funds are those given by individual Realtors and used for campaign contributions.

WHO DECIDES WHICH CANDIDATES GET TREPAC

MONEY?

ALL

POLITICS

ARE

LOCAL

WHO DECIDES WHICH CANDIDATES GET TREPAC

MONEY?• Candidate Questionnaires are mailed out to each

board• Local boards arrange and set up candidate

interviews• Local boards submit their recommendation for

TREPAC support for state and national candidates• TREPAC Trustees vote on local board and TAR

staff recommendations at the state level• TREPAC Trustees vote on local board and TAR

staff recommendations at the national level, and submit recommendations to the RPAC Trustees

TREPAC WORKING WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL

AFFAIRS PROGRAMS OF TAR

• Funds invested in TREPAC are also utilized to increase Realtor participation programs which in turn, will increase the association’s effectiveness and political strength.

A - TEAM

• Public Policy– Formerly Legislative

Affairs

• Political Involvement Council (PIC)– Political Affairs

• Issues Mobilization PAC/Advocacy Fund

• TREPAC

• 4 Legged Stool

LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS1993 Seller Disclosure Required a seller of

residential property to use a promulgated property condition disclosure form, thereby decreasing liability on the seller and real estate licensee

1993 Lock Law Enhancements Superseded common-law requirements for residential tenant security by specifying what types of security devices a landlord must provide to a tenant, thereby decreasing liability on landlords and brokers.

1995 Tort Reforms: DTPA Amendments A number of pro-real estate amendments passed, including: defendant can compel a plaintiff to mediate; commercial real estate was effectively removed from DTPA liability; improved additional proof requirements on plaintiffs; and added penalties for the plaintiff’s refusal of reasonable settlements

1999 Commercial Lien Commercial brokers and appraisers may secure a commission with a lien against the property.

1999 Licensing of Mortgage Brokers Mortgage brokers for the first time are licensed by the state of Texas for the benefit of consumers.

• Minimum Services Codifies regulations relating to a minimum level of service a real estate broker must provide to a consumer.

• Property Tax Reduction The largest in Texas history, reduces property taxes in excess of $15.7 billion by the year 2010.

2007Tax on Personal Autos Exempts personal vehicles that are also used for business purposes for the production of income from the required rendition for ad valorem tax purposes.

2009Property Appraisals The most significant appraisal reform since 1979, provides additional oversight, uniform standards and helps to slow down the pace of increasing property appraisals.

2009Transfer Tax Defeated multiple proposals to tax real estate, including several bills requiring the creation of a tax on every deed recorded by the county clerk.

DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INVESTMENT

• $5,000 Golden R

• $2,500 Crystal R

• $1,000 Sterling R

• $500 Capitol Club

• $250 Lone Star Statesman

• $99 '99 Club Member

• $35 Sustaining Member

THE REALTOR PARTY

You can be one voice

A few voices

Or 85,000 voices

Invest in your future…Invest in your business…

Invest in…

TREPAC

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS