Protect the "American Dream" through RPAC

RPAC is the political arm of the National Association of Realtors. The purpose of RPAC, which is bi-partisan, is to protect our industry from restrictive bureaucratic regulations which hamper our ability to do business on a level playing field. RPAC assists political candidates running for a variety of offices across the country who have pro-Realtor voting record. RPAC is the number one political action committee in the U.S. and is determined to retain that honor this year and for many future years. A strong RPAC helps us to support federal, state and local law makers who share our political views and financial interests. Every contribution to RPAC, no matter the size, has a positive impact on RPAC's lobbying efforts which have achieved many legislative victories which often go unnoticed in the press. On Nov. 5, less that three months from now, will be - in my opinion - the most important election for major office holders, including the Presidential election, in the last 50 years. Candidates will be vying for seats in the entire 435-seat U.S. House of Representatives, as well as one-third of the seats in the 100-member U.S. Senate. In NYS, there will be local elections, particularly those being held for every seat in the NYS Assembly and Senate. Those results, depending on the outcome, could have major implications on the real estate industry for years to come. Many other important issues will be influenced across the entire country by the results of the coming national elections. Some of the issues to be decided on either a local or a national level will be: 1. To protect the deductibility of home mortgage interest and local property taxes. 2. To maintain the long term capital tax rate at 15%. 3. To defeat pending increases in real estate related taxes, including mortgage recording and transfer taxes. 4. Retain the Urstadt Amendment (NYS). 5. Protect private property rights from the unrealistic agenda of environment activists. 6. Obama Care. Obviously there are too many other issues to list, the above items being the tip of the iceberg. We, as players in a major industry, have only two choices. One is to sit back and hope somebody else does the heavy lifting, or take a pro-active posture and contribute funds to the only Realtor organization that has the political clout to make a difference. There is only one choice. Support RPAC with a generous contribution if you have not already done so. Only "Realtors" can make this contribution. I firmly believe to insure your future and future generations to follow, contributing to RPAC is the best investment you can make. Perry Gault is the president of Perry Gault Management Co., Inc., Scarsdale, N.Y.