A Raleigh Realtor has complained to the State Board of Elections.

In a letter sent Wednesday, Raleigh Realtor Becky Harper complains about the N.C. Association of Realtors' use of required dues to oppose the transfer tax.

She notes that she is required to be a member of the association to have access to the Multiple Listing Service, which lists real estate for sale.

"I do not believe that it is right that my required fees are used to support direct political action for or against ballot initiatives," she writes.

She also notes that the dues are deductible as a business expense, but the use of them for political purposes may "jeopardize" that deduction.

Harper attached an e-mail and a letter from the association about the use of dues.

Update: Elections Director Gary Bartlett said they will look into the complaint.

"We plan to do due diligence on it," he said.  

Chris Fitzsimon at The Progressive Pulse sees some encouraging signs in this year's legislative session.

Specifically, he says there have been some "glimmers of hope" this year to indicate that the groups with the big money won't always win the legislative battles.

The Realtors and homebuilders lost this year despite their $800,000 in campaign contributions and a misleading statewide ad campaign that cost nearly as much. The Realtors drew the line in the sand over a local option real estate transfer tax and the General Assembly, led by House Speaker Joe Hackney crossed it, and people will now have a chance to vote on how to pay for schools in their communities.

Legislation that received far less publicity than the transfer tax also provides some hope that legislators might be willing to stand up to the folks who fund the campaigns. The House voted Friday afternoon to stop allowing booster clubs at UNC campuses to pay in-state tuition rates for out-of-state athletes who receive athletic scholarships.

The holdouts on a transfer tax live in swing districts.

Many of the senators who are opposed to allowing counties the option of levying a tax on real estate sales to pay for schools and local services live in areas that switch between Republican and Democratic control.

Voters in their districts are seeing ads funded by Realtors that tell them to "Fight the Home Tax."

Realtors and home builders rank first and second in campaign contributions in the last election, handing out a combined $816,000 in campaign contributions to legislators.

Several of the legislators say they oppose the tax because it could hurt the local economy. (N&O)

A lobbyist with the N.C. Association of Realtors has a different take than Gov. Mike Easley's on why the idea of a transfer tax is stuck in the legislature.

The House Democratic leaders want it. Senate Democrats don't. The influential real estate lobby is fighting it hard.

Legislators aren't afraid of Realtors as Easley said earlier today, says lobbyist Rick Zechini.

Lawmakers Zechini says he's talked to don't think a tax that property owners pay when they sell is good public policy.

Controversy over how the state should pay for the counties' share of Medicaid and whether counties should be allowed to raise a local sales tax or impose a transfer tax is stalling budget negotiations.

Senate leader Marc Basnight said Friday that a budget won't be ready Monday, despite Thursday's sunny assessment from one of his budget writers.

State legislators will square off Tuesday at a Nascar rally.

Teams of senators and representatives will fight to see which would make the best pit crew.

The two teams will change the tires, refill the gas and do other pit stop maintenance on a Nextel Cup challenge car.

Led by captain "Ricky Bobby" Nesbitt, the Senate team hopes to recapture the glory of last year's win with Sens. Stan Bingham, Andrew Brock, Malcolm Graham, Kay Hagan and Eddie Goodall.

On the House side, "Tammy Jo" Earle will lead Reps. Bill Daughtridge, David Lewis, Thom Tillis, Jim Harrell, Bill Faison and Arthur Williams.

For everyone's safety, Gov. Mike Easley will not be driving.