REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)

What is RPAC?

RPAC is the REALTORS Political Action Committee.  RPAC is the voice of tens of thousands of REALTORS in the political arena.  RPAC was established to help elect candidates at the Federal, State, and Local levels who are supportive of the free enterprise system and private property rights.  RPAC is nonpartisan and committee that supports candidates and officials that support our philosophy. 

Why Contribute to RPAC?

RPAC is not simply giving money to political candidates; it is INVESTING in your business and your commitment to preserving the future of the real estate industry.  

How do I contribute?

Make a pledge to RPAC with this Pledge Card.  Then attend any of the KCRAR RPAC fundraisers through the year.  Your contributions made at those fundraisers will credited against your pledge and on September 1 you'll be billed for any remaining unfulfilled amount.  It's an easy way to make a commitment and fulfill it as the year goes along.

What is RPAC doing for me?

RPAC has ensured that REALTORS®:

  • Are afforded a reduced the capital gains rate down from 20-15%

  • Have the ability to sell more homes to the average family with the American Dream Down payment Act

  • Pay no unearned referral fee demands

  • Pay no sales tax on commission 

Some RPAC victories at the federal level:

  • Maintain the mortgage interest deductibility. (This gets put on the table in Congress every year and RPAC dollars are used to preserve this deduction)

  • Favorable capital gains

  • Ability for independent contractors to deduct 100% of their health insurance premium

  • American Dream Downpayment program allows for more 1st time homebuyers to get into the market

Some RPAC victories at the state level:

  • Certain exemptions in the "no call" legislation. (Highest priority for the past few years in Kansas is that we're still working to get the right for real estate companies to own title companies. This is also of highest importance to your own real estate company.

  • Supported the establishment of a housing finance agency in KS -- this allows for more homebuyers.

Some recent RPAC victories at the local level:

  • Successfully worked with Overland Park on a sign ordinance that allows for Open House directions signs, and also maintains the size of Open signs.

  • Working on numerous smart growth issues in both KS and MO in the KC area

RPAC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a PAC?

PACs have been around since 1944, when the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) formed the first one to raise money for the re-election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a popular term for a political committee organized by like-minded people for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. The PAC's money must come from voluntary contributions from members rather than the member's dues treasury. PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests. PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election (primary, general, run-off or special). They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one individual.

Why should I contribute to RPAC?

RPAC is the muscle behind NAR. RPAC represents over 400,000 politically active REALTORS that members of Congress want as their friends. Recent legislative and regulatory successes include:

  • The continued preservation of the mortgage interest deduction.

  • Tax relief benefiting the real estate industry.

  • Improving federal mortgage programs, allowing more families to join the ranks of homeownership.

  • Eliminating burdensome regulations inhibiting environmental quality and healthy real estate markets.

How will my contribution be used?

100% of your contribution is used to elect pro-REALTOR candidates: 70% remains in the state to be used in state and local elections. 30% of your contribution will be forwarded to National RPAC to fund key U.S. House and Senate races. Until your state PAC reaches its RPAC goal 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after the state PAC reaches its RPAC goal it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates. RPAC is neither a Republican nor a Democratic organization. Your contribution to RPAC is a vote for a pro-REALTOR Congress, regardless of political party.

How did RPAC do in the last election?

RPAC remained the nation's largest PAC in direct contributions to candidates with disbursements of over $4.3 million dollars to federal candidates and national political committees in the 2004 election cycle. RPAC also spent over $1,400,000 on our Opportunity Race program that mobilized REALTORS® to be active in 31 congressional campaigns. This represented huge growth over the 2002 cycle when RPAC contributed $3.6 million to candidates and spent $600,000 on Opportunity Races. Most impressive, RPAC resumed its Independent Expenditures program in 2002 after more than a decade hiatus. We spent over $1 million dollars on IEs in 2002, and increased that to $2.6 million on behalf of 5 champions of REALTORS who were locked in toss-up elections, and amazingly all won! RPAC continued its bipartisan tradition, contributing 53% of its funds to Republicans and 47% to Democrats, which closely tracks the current makeup of Congress. RPAC was on the winning side of 97% of the 439 congressional and senate races we contributed to.

Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without affecting your membership rights. 70% of each contribution is used by RPAC to support state and local political candidates. 30% of each contribution is sent to national RPAC. Of that amount, 90% is used by national RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a, while the remaining 10% is used for other federal grassroots political activities.   Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. 

CONTACT:

Derek Ramsay, Vice President for Missouri Government Affairs and Commercial Division

Cindy Green, Vice President for Kansas Government Affairs