Realtor Lobbying Clout . . Not

Realtor Lobbying Clout Overrated

Housing may enjoy its share of tax breaks, incentives, etc., but that's likely in spite of -- not because of -- realtors' lobbying clout.

Locally, the deadline for paying annual dues to the board of realtors is Dec. 1. As part of their dues collection campaign, the board implores its members to voluntarily contribute to its lobbying efforts. What percentage actually do? About 5%.

As an Edina Realty office manager pointed out, the million-odd realtors nationally are all independent contractors. We already pay for our own insurance, health care, business equipment, continuing education, etc. -- and are not inclined to pay for "discretionary" items like lobbying.

By contrast, the banking or oil industries, to pick just two examples, are dominated by a handful of goliaths who wield much more power over their employees.

They don't ask their employees to support their political agendas, they tell them. Senior management also has much more authority to spend corporate resources on their company's behalf.