This concentrated lobbying effort was an historic show of strength and resolve by our members as we hammered home our message that in order to fix the economy, lawmakers and the incoming Obama Administration must "Fix Housing First." In Capitol Hill meetings targeting more than 90 of the most influential members of Congress and its tax writing committees just as those members were sworn into office, we explained the critical need for a greatly expanded tax credit for home purchasers; a government buy-down of mortgage rates that would reassure consumers and greatly incentivize home buying in 2009; and further efforts to stem foreclosures. Our "builder blitz" and Fix Housing First message attracted significant media coverage, including televised interviews of NAHB President and CEO Jerry Howard on Fox's "Your World With Neil Cavuto" and of NAHB member Greg Ugalde on CNBC. In addition, the influential Capitol Hill newspaper Politico ran articles in its Jan. 7 and Jan. 8 online and print editions (see "Builders Hammer Home Call for Aid") in which NAHB member Tom Woods, Jerry, and our messages were prominently featured. The Associated Press and several other media outlets also carried the story. In a very important development, Jerry reported that Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, has agreed to help champion the call for a housing stimulus in Congress.

Meanwhile, NAHB held a second round of regional media teleconferences through the week – a total of 12 have now taken place – to expand public awareness of the critical role that housing plays in local economies and job markets and the very real need for government action to spur housing demand. The latest locations included Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Indiana. NAHB also continued to run hard-hitting full-page ads in Roll Call, Politico and The Hill touting the need for a major new housing stimulus.

In total, this week's activities marked a nearly unprecedented lobbying blitz for our association in terms of its urgency and immediate impact. See the next edition of NBN Online for details, and check out the many resources at www.nahb.org/fixhousingfirst to find out what YOU can do to help further our united cause. Contact Molly Murray (x8282) regarding the Capitol Hill visits; contact Paul Lopez (x8409) regarding news coverage and the regional media teleconferences; and contact Jay Shackford (x8406) regarding NAHB's ad campaign.

4. Exempt Loan Restructuring from Income Taxation, a proposed resolution calling on Congress to amend Sec. 108 of the IRS Code to exempt loan restructuring between lenders and businesses from phantom income taxation. Staff contact: Rob Dietz, x8285.

5. NAHB Dues Reduction for HBAs in Economically Distressed States, a proposed recommendation calling on NAHB to consider cutting its dues for one year by 50% for HBAs operating in states that meet the following three hardship criteria: statewide association membership has declined 10% annually for two consecutive years; building permits have declined at a rate worse than the national average for more than two consecutive years; and the unemployment rate has been above the national average for more than two consecutive years. Staff contact: Melissa Leighton, x8251.

6. Endorsements of Candidates for National Office by Senior Officers, a proposed recommendation reaffirming NAHB's existing policy of not endorsing any candidate running for the office of President of the United States. The recommendation also prohibits any NAHB Senior Officer from publicly endorsing or supporting a candidate for President of the United States as long as he or she serves as a Senior Officer. Staff contact: Deb Malone, x8256.

For more information on any of the above resolutions/recommendations and on the resolutions review process, please contact Jay Shackford, x8406. [return to top]