From Inman News Features
The National Association of Home Builders announced during its spring board of directors meeting last month that BUILD-PAC, its political action committee, has raised more than $1.75 million.
The amount represents 73 percent of its $2.4 million goal for the 2001-2002 election cycle.
Among all PACs, BUILD-PAC is ranked fifth in contributing to Republican candidates and is 10th among non-union PACs in giving to Democratic candidates, according to the NAHB.
“With control of both chambers of Congress hanging in the balance, this year’s
elections are very important for the home building industry,” said Rich Morin, a Vermont builder and chairman of BUILD-PAC. “Smart Growth, tax policy, federal housing programs and environmental quality are just a few of the major issues that loom large on the political landscape.
“We’re not about electing Democrats or Republicans to Congress. Our job is to elect pro-housing candidates to Congress.”
BUILD-PAC has distributed $1.3 million to candidates running for federal office in the 2002 elections, and another $350,000-400,000 in candidate disbursements will be considered during the NAHB board meeting.
According to the NAHB, last year BUILD-PAC raised more funds than Ford,
General Motors and Exxon combined, it ranks third among trade associations and professional societies in terms of overall contributions to candidates running for Congress and it is the top political action committee among construction and real estate organizations.
The NAHB is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 205,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction.