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As I am waiting for the responses from my initial round of meetings on Capitol Hill in January (you can review past articles to see the progress the Distressed Property Coalition has already made in 2013), I thought I would take an opportunity to address an issue that comes up quite often: the merits of online petitions as a means of influencing lawmakers and national policy.
Full disclosure, I started working in D.C. a month after graduating from Johns Hopkins back in 1995, and the majority of those years I have worked as a lobbyist or some form of consultant for hedge funds, investment banks, and of course real estate interests and Real Estate Mogul.
So one could conclude that it is in my interest to dismiss any other forms of advocacy other than direct lobbyist. And they would be correct. However, I also have history on my side.
The Way It’s Always Been Done
For decades, investors have primarily lobbied via petitions, canned letters to politicians, and the like.
I heard one story about an investor group…
John Grant
is the president of the Distressed Property Coalition, a private advocacy effort formed by the top leaders in the residential real estate industry, and dedicated to private market solutions, smaller government, and protecting taxpayers. DPC exists because investors deserve an easier path to buy and sell houses. Investors deserve to shape policies that govern them, not to be subjected to them. Investors deserve better information on current laws and policies. Investors deserve a safe environment to learn more about the industry. DPC is dedicated to providing these services to the residential real estate community. Their content and track record of success in Washington are unprecedented for this industry.
To received Mr. Grant’s policy briefings and newsletter, please visit www.distressedpropertycoalition.com