Always Follow the Money: Michigan Realtors PAC, influence peddling and the cost of housing

As anyone who has lived in Michigan over the past 20 years knows, the housing market has skyrocketed. 

Too many people are being priced out of the ability to even buy a home, and rental costs are also out of reach to thousands of families and individuals. While housing costs have gone up, income and wages for most have stagnated or have not increased anywhere near the increase in housing.

None of this matters to the Real Estate industry, which is why the Realtors PAC of Michigan continues to make significant amounts of campaign contributions to both Republicans and Democrats across the state. 

According to the most recent campaign contribution data from the State of Michigan, the  Realtors PAC of Michigan has made contributions to 206 different candidates. Here are some of the larger contributions Realtors PAC of Michigan has made:

• House Republican Campaign Committee – $32,875.00
• Michigan House Democratic Fund – $22,875.00
• Senate Republican Campaign Committee – $15,000.00
• National RPAC – $11,400.00
• Transformational Leadership Fund – $10,000.00

There are also a fair amount of contributions to candidates from Kent County and Grand Rapids, particularly those who are on the August 6th Primary Ballot:

• Fitzgerald for Michigan PAC – $2,500.00
• Committee to Elect Kristian Grant – $2,000.00
• Friends of Bryan Posthumus – $1,500.00
• Friends of Phil Skaggs – $1,500.00
• Friends of John Fitzgerald – $1,250.00
• Committee to Elect Gina Johnsen – $1,250.00
• Friends of Stephen Wooden – $1,000.00
• Robin Halsted for Kent County Commissioner – $1,000.00
• Lindsey Thiel for Kent County Commissioner – $1,000.00
• John Krajewski 3rd Ward Grand Rapids City Commissioner – $1,000.00
• Dean Pacific 1st Ward Grand Rapids City Commissioner – $1,000.00
• Dan Burrill or Kent County Commissioner – $750.00
• Committee to Elect Angela Rigas – $750.00
• Brinks Majority Fund – $500.00
• Citizens for Stan Ponstein – $500.00
• David LaGrand for Mayor of Grand Rapids – $500.00
• Stan Stek for Kent County Commissioner – $500.00
• Ben Greene for Kent County Commissioner – $500.00
• Monica Sparks for Kent County Commissioner – $500.00
• Katie DeBoer for Kent County Commissioner – $300.00

It is rather instructive to see how many local State Legislators, Kent County and Grand Rapids candidates received funds from a statewide Political Action Committee. You can bet that the Realtors PAC of Michigan wants to make sure that candidates from Grand Rapids and Kent County don’t make social housing or even truly affordable housing a reality. Always follow the money!