> >

REALTORS® Political Action Committee MLS Independent Expenditure Program

The cost of protecting and advancing the business interests of Multiple Listing Services (MLSs), REALTOR^® Associations, and real estate professionals, rose dramatically with the Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission Supreme Court decision in 2010.

That decision prompted NAR to pursue a number of changes to help the REALTORS^® Political Action Committee (RPAC) compete in today’s high-cost, high-stakes campaign finance arena. One of those changes is the creation of an RPAC MLS Independent Expenditure Program, which asks each and every MLS to make a business investment in RPAC. These funds are devoted to electing candidates who advance the mutual business interests of REALTORS^® and the MLS Community.

The MLS Community and REALTORS^® are partners in business. For years, REALTORS^® and the MLS Community have worked together to advance their mutual interests. It naturally follows that they are partners in advocacy, as well.

Comprehensive materials on this new program are linked below:

REALTORS^® Political Action Committee MLS Independent Expenditure Program
Pledge Form
CMLS2014 Building an Advocacy Partnership to Protect and Advance Your Business Interests (video)
General RPAC MLS IE Presentation to CMLS (ppt - 5.35MB | pdf - 1.29MB)
Detailed RPAC MLS IE Presentation to CMLS (ppt - 1.23MB | pdf - 512KB)
Technology Policy Update Presentation to CMLS (ppt - 1.52MB | pdf - 1.09MB)

Proposed Changes to RPAC Fundraising Goals

The RPAC MLS Independent Expenditure Program is part of a set of recommendations currently headed to NAR’s Board of Directors for approval in November 2014. Those recommendations specify changes to both the ways RPAC dollars are raised and the sources of that money. In a nutshell, RPAC would move from its traditional “fair share” form of goal setting, which is arbitrary, to a needs-based strategy.

See the full set of recommendations, in addition to other detailed information on proposed changes to RPAC Fundraising Goal Policies.

For more information, please contact:
Ed Lawler
(202) 383-1156
elawler@realtors.org