Nixon (Missouri AG) sues to stop dismantling of bridge

St. Louis Post-Dispatch via stltoday. com ^ | May 26, 2005 | AP

[tahiti]

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Attorney General Jay Nixon sued the Department of Natural Resources on Thursday to try to stop the dismantling of an old Missouri River railroad bridge that historic preservationists hope could someday become part of the Katy Trail State Park.

The lawsuit contends the department had no authority to relinquish the state's rights to Boonville bridge to Union Pacific Railroad Co. without getting specific approval from the Legislature.

It also contends the Missouri Constitution bars the state from giving its bridge interests to a private company without compensation. And Nixon claims that losing the rights to the bridge could open the entire 200-some-mile stretch of the Katy Trail biking and hiking path to legal challenges by private property owners.

[tahiti]

"It also contends the Missouri Constitution bars the state from giving its bridge interests to a private company without compensation."

Typical lying Democrat or typical lying, stupid AP reporter.

There is nothing in the Missouri Constitution that requires a private company to compensate the state for property that the state gives to the private property owner.