Lobby Day Report May 2012

Lobby Day Report – Bob Treuber

The Association held Lobbying Day on April 30 and May 1 in Albany.  The entire membership thanks the following members for taking time to represent the concerns of title professionals across the state: Robert Breton, Peter Brogan, Paul Bugoni, Rafael Castellanos, Bill Collins, Richard Estrella, Carlo Femia, Thomas Gifford, Richard Giliotti, Marc Herskowitz, Amy Kelly, Michael Kelly, Monica Malagon, Marianne Mathieu, Judd Staley, Sal Turano, and Stephen Vincini. 

Mr. Vincent Danzi of Equity Settlement presented a CLE session on RESPA as part of our Lobby Day and he participated in the Legislative Meetings, as well.

These folks met with 28 legislators and NYSLTA took a big step towards raising the awareness and esteem of the title insurance industry in New York.  They explained the Association position on title agent licensing and got commitments from the legislators to contact the Governor’s Office about this issue.  Also, these members presented the NYSLTA position on six bills currently in the Senate or Assembly – always showing how the best interests of the consumer and the state economy are protected by title insurance professionals.

Members were briefed on all the issues and provided with Talking Points Memos for the legislator meetings.  Materials ranged from the prosaic (floor plan of the Capitol and LOB) to the strategic (color-coded leave behind packets with bill memos).

Starting with the excellent work of our Legislative Committee, we are building a cadre of members with increasing savvy of the advocacy process. We look forward to a larger turn-out next year which will enable us to meet with more legislators.