IREM and CCIM Honor Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) as ‘Legislator of the Year’

Chicago—The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) and the CCIM Institute have jointly honored U.S. Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) with their 2014 “Legislator of the Year” award. For the past several years, IREM and CCIM have annually recognized the efforts of a legislator who has shown significant support for, and understanding of, issues of importance to commercial real estate.

Serving his second term as the U.S. Representative from the 15th congressional district, Stivers was lauded for his support of all major commercial real estate advocacies, including Internet sales tax legislation, H.R.684, or the Marketplace Fairness Act. The companion legislation to H.R. 684, S. 743, passed the Senate with a vote of 69 (yes) to 27 (no). The bill would simplify and streamline the tax collection process for online retailers, correcting the inequity that permits them not to pay taxes, while brick and motor stores are required to charge and record a sales tax. Stivers also signed on to a letter urging EPA regulators not to hastily create regulations related to the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled “Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting (LRRP) Program for Public and Commercial Buildings.” Observed IREM® 2014 President-elect Lori Burger, CPM®, part of a group of IREM and CCIM members who presented Stivers with his award in his Capitol Hill office: “Congressman Stivers is most definitely a friend of commercial real estate and we are proud to have him advocate for our industry.”