Perry signs property rights bill into law

KVUE ^ | October 24, 2005 | KVUE

[freedomdefender]

Governor Rick Perry signed the eminent domain bill into law in Waco, saying the legislation will "close a door the Supreme Court jarred open."

Perry had officially signed the law September first, but had to postpone the ceremonial signing in Waco because of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Texas was one of at least 31 states to review eminent domain laws following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that backed governments' power to take private land for economic development as a way to increase tax revenue.

At the Waco Association of Realtors office yesterday, Perry said that government should not encroach upon the private property rights unless there is an eminent public need.

He says that eminent domain for public use is a necessary power; eminent domain for private use is a great threat.

[JeffAtlanta]

The republican leadership in Georgia has assured us that we don't need any further protections as emminent domain will never be abused.

What a great bunch of guys.

[isthisnickcool]

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/cqcgi?CQ_SESSION_KEY=TKMTIEEISGRS&CQ_QUERY_HANDLE=124651&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=15&CQ_SAVE[bill_number]=SB00007ENR&CQ_TLO_DOC_TEXT=YES

[Defiant]

My gripe with Perry and his highway to hell is that landowners are not compensated for the real economic value of what's being taken. IE: Stealing.

That's a separate issue, regarding the amount of compensation. There is a right to a jury trial in eminent domain cases if you don't like what the government wants to pay you. There will always be abusive local governments and courts that are inclined to support them. Self-government is imperfect. But it sure helps to have a constitution that says you get "fair" compensation if they want your property. Not many people in human history have had that right. That's why eroding that right in the Kelo decision struck such a nerve with people.

[sergeantdave]

You can do whatever you want with property provided you do what pleases the government. Used to be called serfdom. The modern version is called fascism.

[DilJective]

The next step is get rid of the rest of the socialist laws that have taken away property rights- inability to rent to anyone a landowner wants; taxes based on property values to the point of evicting owners unable to pay; zoning laws; community restrictions; environmental laws; rent control; etc. Sure, you can own property as long as you follow all the rules... Property rights have been eroding for decades and should have been stopped a long time ago. Politicians have hoodwinked property owners by making them think that only the slumlords and wealthy would ever be affected by laws that take away rights. When slumlords were told they could not exclude anyone they wanted, no one thought that was a bad idea and then came the rent control. Then it was applied to everyone with a spare apartment. No big deal, because not everyone has property to rent out. Then the Environmental laws came and only affected a few people with property in wetland areas and goofy cute animals. Not a big deal until wetlands started covering entire regions and stopped families from building homes for themselves. Finally, the final solution to redistribution tactics- eminent domain abuse. Now that normal citizens are being affected by this, there is finally outrage. I hope the outrage doesn't end with eminent domain. We need to take back all property rights. Every bit of it. Until property owners have complete control over what they own, there will never be complete freedom. That's my two cents.

[rambo316]

Here in the state of NY, there is no hope for private land owners. I work for the state of NY and I see what is going on first hand. What you have here, is Commie land grabbing groups which are supposed to be private, joining together and buying up private land. Then they turn around and then sell it back to the state for a loss and this is all done for the birds and trees. And our RINO gov. allows this to happen.

[Barney Gumble]

Perry is a bit of a Democrat and I was initially interested by her commments but she's just a phony.

[dfwgator]

Pull off Strayhorn's mask, and you'll get Ma Richards.

[cowtowney]

So does this mean that the Dallas Cowboys will not be taking people's homes and businesses in Arlington for their new stadium?

[SevenDaysInMay]

The Kelo SCOTUS justices voted for fascism: socialist government taking, through misuse of police powers of the State, from disfavored citizens to reward favored citizens. Because justices ruled to unlawfully amend our ratified Constitution again, all public discourse should be over these blackrobed oligarchs' impeachment and removal from office for "bad behavior". They are but oulaws attacking our ratified Constitution under color of law. Anything less is aiding and abetting domestic enemies of our Constitution.

[Dead Corpse]

I think Texas has become the leader of the Free World.

Yeah... Maybe if we got a handle on spending, property taxes, toll roads, and got Alaska style CCW laws... You'd be right. Until then, nope...

[Rocky]

As long as the courts reserve the right to overturn laws, I don't find great comfort in this. But at least the legislative and executive branches in Texas have displayed respect for property rights and the U.S. Constitution.

[mewzilla]

God bless Texas.

Amen :)

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

"Pull off Strayhorn's mask, and you'll get Ma Richards. "

True!

[middie]

Federalism as it was inteded to be. This example is contrary to the Supreme Court telling Florida how to recount its votes.

[middie]

Good grief! What an outregeous and immature, not to mention idiotic, statement.....

[HamiltonFan]

Carole (whatever her lastest name is today) is nuts! she is to the right of Micheal Moore (some days)

[HamiltonFan]

What how is your Governor Rick Perry a bit of a democrat?

[Barney Gumble]

Well, A) he was a Democrat up until about 1990. B) He's not exactly fiscally conservative. C) He largely ignores the open border as per the Republican platform.

The property rights bill is a no-brainer for any politician.