Leadership of the REALTOR associations in the 7 th Congressional District recently met with Representative Ed Perlmutter. Chairman of the Board Lincoln Gill and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Ken Aggus represented the Jefferson County Association of REALTORS. Bill Greer and Adella Engel represented the North Metro Denver REALTOR Association. Chairman of the Board-elect Barb Cline represented the Aurora Association of REALTORS. Top on the REALTORS' agenda was the passage of the Housing Bill which has been stalled in the Senate. The bill, which includes FHA reform, GSE reform, foreclosure rescue, and a homebuyer tax credit, is held up in the Senate. The REALTORS thanked Congressman Perlmutter for his support of the reforms and asked that the House of Representatives urge their counterparts in the Senate to act after the July 4 recess.

The other top item on the agenda for discussion was health insurance for small businesses. In most states, the self-employed, including REALTORS, depend upon the individual insurance market or the small group market for coverage. Both of these markets are dysfunctional. Since 2001, small group insurance premiums have increased a staggering 78%. Today, only 45% of small firms - 34% of realty firms - are able to offer health insurance to their employees. The National Association of REALTORS has joined forces with a broad-based coalition that includes the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the Service Employees International Union to support the Small Business Health Options Program which was recently introduced in the U.S. Congress.