Home Builders Hire Some Jumbo Lobbying Help
The National Association of Home Builders is bringing out the big guns for its lobbying battle on the housing bill. The association has hired former Republican Rep. Michael Oxley of Ohio and his lobbying firm, Baker and Hostetler, according to recently filed lobbying reports. It also has contracted with two other lobbying firms over the past month. In signing on with three new firms, the association doubled its roster of outside lobbying representatives to six. The association also has a stable of in-house lobbyists representing its agenda on Capitol Hill.

Home Builders Hire Some Jumbo Lobbying Help
By Emily Cadei and Benton Ives, CQ Staff
June 27, 2008

The National Association of Home Builders is bringing out the big guns for its lobbying battle on the housing bill.

The association has hired former Republican Rep. Michael Oxley of Ohio and his lobbying firm, Baker and Hostetler, according to recently filed lobbying reports. It also has contracted with two other lobbying firms over the past month.

“Our industry is in a serious downturn,” said NAHB CEO Jerry Howard. “We view enactment of this bill as a crucial first step toward our recovery and so we’re doing everything we can to get it passed.”

In signing on with three new firms, the association doubled its roster of outside lobbying representatives to six. The association also has a stable of in-house lobbyists representing its agenda on Capitol Hill.

Oxley, a former chairman of the Financial Services Committee, is the biggest name among the new contracts signed by NAHB. The trade association hopes Oxley can help influence the housing legislation currently under consideration in the Senate.

The legislation ( HR 3221 ) is Congress’ most significant response to the housing downturn to date. It combines several major pieces of legislation, including a $300 billion expansion of the Federal Housing Administration’s insurance programs aimed at helping struggling borrowers, as well as a package of housing-focused tax breaks.

The NAHB is pushing hard for a home-buyer tax credit that they argue would boost consumer demand for homes and improve housing prices.

On retaining Oxley, Howard said: “He’s obviously well respected across party lines and in both sides of the Capitol . . . He’s been doing a bang up job for us, we’re very pleased.”

The association is one of the biggest players in housing industry lobbying. It spent $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2008, surpassing the $1.2 million it spent during the last half of 2007.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., set the stage on earlier this week for moving forward with the housing bill after the July Fourth recess. He has set up a cloture vote for July 7 on a motion to concur with several House amendments.
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