6/19/09
INFO ON THE RECENT WASHINGTON DC TRIP by Barry Lefkowitz of Management & Government Resources, Inc.:

DC was very successful for us and our overall efforts to protect the industries. It was, and I want to emphasize it, an asset having Anna Lazar from Allied Financial accompany us in the 5 meetings. We had 3 House and 2 Senate meetings yesterday. In both Democratic meetings on the House side, it was recognized that even though their bosses originally voted for HR 1728 (Adler and Pascrell) they now realize that the legislation, as I described it, should have been titled “The Law of Unintentional Consequences.” Dave Corsi, VP of NJ Association of Real Estate Professionals (NJAREP), Randy Poulson, Pres. of NJAREP, Sherman Ragland, President of the DC Area REIA and the two gentlemen accompanying Anna all did an outstanding job in laying the foundation for opposition to HR1728. Both Democratic staffers agreed that their Congressman will notify Senator Menendez of their opposition to the passage of HR1728. In the House Republican office of Congressman Roskam, Chief of Staff Dave Mork, basically said we told them so.

In meeting with Senator Robert Menendez’s Legislative Counsel, Michael Passante, he was most sensitive to our concerns and issues since as an attorney and having been involved with a major real estate firm in New Jersey, he completely understood all of our arguments. Having the united front was an asset for our efforts with Senator Menendez’s office, as well as Senator Vitter’s (R-LA and Ranking member of the Housing Sub-Committee). The meeting with Travis Johnson, Legislative Assistant to Senator David Vitter, went extremely well. Travis had worked on the House side and was most familiar with HR1728 and its predecessor in the previous Congress. We were led to believe that Senator Vitter is in opposition to HR1728 and they recognize the nightmare that HR1728 would create for all of our coalition friends.

Both Senate staffers made it clear that we were the first group on the Hill to be organized in speaking in opposition to HR1728, which begs the question of “where is everybody.” They made it clear that although there has not been a Senate version introduced, we should not be lulled into complacency since they can just pass the House Bill either as an amendment to some other bill moving on the floor or use HR1728 as a stand alone bill and work with that in Committee since it has already passed the House. In other words, in spite of what anyone tells you we have to aggressively work against HR1728.

As regards “Installment Sales,” we are in great shape. Congressman Pascrell has decided that he will along with a group of other Democrats and Republicans, with Congressman Roskam (R-IL) as the Republican lead, will wait until they return from the July 4^th break to introduce our bill in order to give Senator Menendez, who is a member of the Senate Finance Committee as well as Banking and Housing) and Senator Vitter time to decide that they will sponsor the Senate version of “Installment sales,” which was an integral part of our discussion with both Senate offices.

Sherman Ragland has agreed to be a part of the training workshops that Charles and I will be conducting at the Mid-Year Conference being held in San Antonio. Our workshops will be held on June 27^th. Sherman will be able to share his experience and in-sights to his venture yesterday regarding HR 1728 and “Installment Sales.”

I trust this gives everyone a thumbnail sketch of yesterday’s successful venture. The Coalition has to now decide about moving forward on these measures and providing the resources for Charles and myself as we have gone beyond the “call of duty.”

Barry Lefkowitz
Management & Government Resources, Inc