TLTA Attends Federal Affairs Conference in DC
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TLTA Attends Federal Affairs Conference in DC Left to Right: Craig Brown; Randy Pitman, past TLTA president - West Texas Abstract & Title Co.; Dawn Moore, TLTA president - Allegiance Title Company; Phyllis Mulder, past TLTA president – Alliant National Title Insurance; Cheryl Cox – TitleClose, Inc.; Jack Rattikin III, past TLTA president – Rattikin Title Company. Last week, a delegation of TLTA members and past presidents led by President Dawn Moore, visited Washington, D.C. as part of the American Land Title Association Federal Affairs Conference. Over the course of a day and a half, the group held sixteen different face-to-face meetings with members and staff of the U.S. Congress to discuss the CFPB and their TRID implementation set to begin August 1, 2015. The group met personally with Senator John Cornyn and Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas), as well as, Pete Sessions (R-Dallas); Bill Flores (R-Waco); Marc Veasey (D-Ft. Worth); Ruben Hinojosa (D-Beeville); Roger Williams (R- Austin); Kenny Marchant (RIrving); Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land); and, two new freshman Members from Texas, John Ratcliffe (RRockwall) and Dr. Brian Babin (R-Woodville). In addition, they met with staff of Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R- Lubbock), Al Green (D-Houston); Mike Conaway (R-Midland) and freshman Will Hurd (R-San Antonio). The group specifically asked the elected officials to considering supporting a move to get CFPB to institute a “hold harmless” or “restrained enforcement” period for the first five months the TRID rule is in effect. There is legislation in Congress, HR 2213, to require CFPB to not enforce good faith mistakes on the new disclosures until after December 31, 2015. The TLTA delegation asked our Texas Members of Congress to co-sponsor this legislation as well as to sign on to a letter Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) was sending to CFPB requesting that it voluntarily take this position. As of this writing, an incredible 270 plus Members of Congress have signed that letter, including many of the Texas delegation thanks to TLTA’s efforts. The TLTA members also discussed the issue of CFPB’s new disclosures and the inability to accurately reflect the cost of simultaneous issue title policies on the new forms. This is the only financial information on the new forms that has to be reported inaccurately. Consumers will be confused and unaware of the discounts of the simultaneous issue policy. TLTA has previously submitted written comments to the CFPB about this issue, but the CFPB has refused to reconsider how this is handled. The TLTA delegation discussed this concern with Chairman Hensarling, whose Committee would have jurisdiction over the issue, and asked for his help in the event legislation is needed to resolve this problem. Finally, the TLTA delegation talked about some important tax issues, including preservation of the real estate tax deduction and 1031 exchanges, which we hope lawmakers will consider when tax reform discussions begin again in the future. .