02 SEP 2018 – Is this why our Legislators won’t Eliminate Property Tax?
“You might be surprised to find that your friendly local realtor is the member of a powerful force in Texas politics.
Established in 1920, Texas Association of Realtors and its affiliated PACs (TREPAC and Texas Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization PAC) are active, influential, and especially well-funded. During the last election cycle alone, these two PACs took in more than $16 million dollars and spent more than $44 million. More money flowed through the realtors’ PACs than through any other political entity in Texas.” – TransparencyTexas.org; 10 April 2017
$44 MILLION.
That’s what TREPAC spent in the LAST ELECTION on focus groups, economic impact studies, polling, mailers, television commercials, websites, newspaper advertising, social media advertising, paid robocalls, a phone bank, event sponsorships, email blasts, yard signs, stickers, speaking engagements, and even teletownhalls. All to influence your legislators, their votes and their voters.
So, why would TREPAC oppose eliminating property tax?
Replacing property tax with an expanded sales tax could include real estate agent services (commissions). Realtors believe that will negatively impact their business. And they don’t like the idea of a tax on property sales for the same reason. That’s why they got a Texas Constitutional Amendment passed in 2015 to prevent it. But without sales tax on property, any plan to eliminate property tax will most likely fail.
I’ve attached some snapshots of the contributions (in thousands) for the Senate Finance, House Ways & Means, and Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief. You’ll also see how TREPAC ranks as a donor for them.
Here are sums contributed since 2015.
TREPAC really loves the Senate Finance Committee. It contributed $587k to 14 of 15 members. And for 5 of them, TREPAC is their Number One donor. I wonder why so much to a group that has jurisdiction over taxation?
TREPAC contributed $99k to 6 of 11 members in the House Ways & Means Committee. They love Dennis Bonnen, too. They’re his Number One donor ($58k). Dennis is the Chair who controls priorities and agendas. Could this be why Valoree Swanson‘s bill to abolish property tax never got a hearing last session?
Then there’s the Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief. They’re supposed to study and propose alternate solutions to property tax. TREPAC loves them, too, contributing $160k to ALL 6 members. Think this committee will propose we Eliminate Property Tax?
Oh, and let’s not forget Lt. Dan, Joe Straus, and Dear Leader Abbot. TREPAC contributed $125k, $101k and 100k, respectively. Now, why don’t they want to Eliminate Property Tax?
I’m still researching contributions but I thought these were some of the most significant I’ve seen. You can see more TREPAC contributions to (your) legislators by reviewing the spreadsheet in our Files section, “Contact List-Legislators.xlsx.”
No Relief. No Reform. #EliminatePropertyTax