Real Estate Trusts Lobbied on Tax Rules

A trade association representing real estate developers and operators paid Washington Council Ernst & Young $160,000 in the second half of 2007 to lobby the federal government.
The firm lobbied Congress and the Treasury Department on tax rules involving real estate investment trusts, according to a disclosure form posted online Tuesday by the Senate's public records office. The trade group paid the firm $160,000 in the first six months of 2007 to lobby on the same issues.
Congress is considering ways to increase taxes on private equity firms, which are usually structured as partnerships. Many real estate investment trusts are also set up as partnerships, and changes to the taxation of partnership income could affect them.
ProLogis, Boston Properties Inc. and AvalonBay Communities Inc. are among the members of the trade group.
Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.