Posted on 01/23/2016 10:01:45 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
DES MOINES - If nothing else, Donald Trump certainly didn't toe the company line or kowtow to the citizens of Pella, Iowa, while touting his support for eminent domain during his second campaign stop in the Hawkeye State on Saturday.
With only eight days until voting, the Republican Party front-runner continued to back eminent domain before a crowd interspersed with locals from Pella and Oskaloosa as the two cities continue to push to build a regional airport next to Highway 163 using the practice. Twice, Trump called the practice a "positive thing" while talking up the necessity of its use.
"I'm not in love with eminent domain, but eminent domain is a good thing. It's necessary," Trump said, adding later that "eminent domain is something that's a positive thing - not a negative thing. Yeah, sometimes cities will use it in order to do business."
"Let's say a person has a house or a person has a backyard and they're going to build a factory that's going to employ 5,000 people, and sometimes the city will use the power," Trump said. "And by the way, if you don't get that property, they're going to go to another city, and they're going to spend millions of dollars and they're going to build a factory there, they're going to employ 5,000 people - but not in your city. Eminent domain is a positive thing. It's got to be used judiciously."
According to reports, the building of the proposed airport, which has been talked about for over a decade, would seek to use eminent domain to take property from nine separate properties. Despite largely enjoying Trump's remarks, locals in the crowd admitted they were a little surprised Trump used the occasion to support the idea.
"If I had to say yes or no to the airport ... I would say no. It's going to be a huge tax burden on the community. I don't want to see that," said Guy Schwab, a Pella resident. "I don't want to be given the bill for ... private enterprise thinking that they want something. Right now, we've got private businesses that front that airport. I don't want the bill."
Schwab, a 65-year-old impending retiree, argued that the airport isn't a necessity as the two current airports (Pella and Ottumwa) aren't deficient structurally or financially.
In his pitch, Trump also touched on the building of pipelines, specifically mentioning the Keystone XL and Bakken pipelines, which runs from Northwest to Southeast Iowa to deliver crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois.
"Where else is eminent domain used? For pipelines. All of these [GOP 2016 candidates] are in favor of the Keystone pipeline," Trump said. "You couldn't build five feet of the Keystone pipeline without eminent domain. It's going through people's farms, it's going through people's houses."
"Without it, you wouldn't have any highways, you wouldn't have laws," Trump continued. "Did anyone know that that's how you build roads and thats how you build schools and that's how you build other things?"
Bob Owens, a 61-year-old resident of Pella, agreed partly with Trump's points, stating, "yeah, you've got to think about progress, and you've got to think about things that [Trump] was talking about. But when it gets to actual personal and talking about taking away your farm, then it gets to be a little bit of a different deal [who's against the airport.] We have a good airport. We have an airport that's functional. I just personally don't think there's a need for it."
Although the situation is in limbo, the stance of many area residents is clear with signs lining Highway 163 protesting the airport. Other candidates who have come into the area have taken on the issue directly, with Sen. Rand Paul hosting a town hall on the subject in Oskaloosa on Jan. 7.
Trump is currently in a heated battle with Sen. Ted Cruz to win Iowa. According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Trump leads by 2.5 points over the Texas senator. In the Washington Examiner's presidential power rankings, Cruz is in first place with Trump in second. While Trump is slated to make stops in Iowa on both Sunday and Tuesday, Cruz will be holding events from Monday to Friday, with the two meeting Thursday at the GOP debate in Des Moines.
When Rafael goes back to being a Senator, all you will do is bitch in here, especially if Trump does well as president.
You establishment types have no room to call anyone a statist, much less odious. As usual, the words you use on others merely project your traits.
“Please oh please, someone declare my house falls for some type of eminent domain, and offer me SEVEN times what my house is worth, like that lady in NY. I have zero sentimental attachment to bricks, mortar, wood, copper, roof shingles, etc used to build my house.’
Li Kai-Shing (Hong Kong’s Trump only a lot more evil) bought our flat in 2007. HK has a lot less strict laws than the US. Our legal adviser said that yes we would eventually have to sell. The issue was how much money could we wring out Cheung-Kong Development before they went to the trouble taking us to imminent domain. We were TOLD to say “This is our home.” “Our kids grew up here!” “It isn’t about the money” (Even though it was about the money) We ended up with with a choice of a flat in the new building and about twice what we paid for the old one or about four times what we paid. We took the cash and moved back to Senior Staff Quarters at HKU.
The moral of this story? When people tell you it isn’t about the money it almost always is. That stupid old woman in New Jersey was a fool.
Do you own real estate?
I have been told that they are very fair and balanced, and that I would be insane to think there is bias.
Kelo was an abomimation of a leftist SCOTUS Justice swinging the vote and writing the decision as I remember. But Eminent Domain is Constitutional and when truly necessary and owner is fairly compensated, property is forfeited justly.
What if you don't pay them?
Some of us weren’t around during WWII. What were the circumstances to which you refer?
Of course you do know that Cruz supports eminent domain also.
You are the freaking clown dipshit. Real estate taxes and theft are two different issues that you idiots conflate rather than just admit you are statist pukes who are good with state actors condemning private property to benefit private actors.
Now, about Trump and his vote-getting missteps that you're trying to navigate away from.
Trump calls for higher ethanol mandate
Poll: Ethanol not a huge issue for Iowans [dead last in list of 10 issues]
Not true.
I didn’t change my mind about Keystone.
I have a large natural gas pipeline on the edge of my property. Eminent domain was not used to get an easement for access/use. The original property owner was paid to secure the easement without government force.
Eminent domain should not be used to take private property from owners for private projects unless the project is considered an issue of national security and involves a court review.
I think the deal is if you trash Trump and state in a declarative manor that you will not vote under any circumstance for Trump, even if he gets the nomination, will get you the zot.
I do pay them. And your analogy is retarded. As are you tough guy. When did you stop paying your taxes again hero?
The only way to actually own your real estate is to patent the land once you get the “deed” to the property.
Some states are easier than others.
Back east, for instance, best of luck to you. Out here, where there is (or used to be mining) it is easier.
I agree. My comment is based on recent activity, it might not be a good idea to tangle with some of "FR's power brokers.
Well I am not voting for Trump under any circumstances so you can hike your pants up your ass and March down to the principal’s office with your hall monitor notebook.
If you say those things on a thread when Jim Rob is also present, he gives a slight warning. Take another step after that....
I watched TBBT go that way.
Have you ever heard the term "life, liberty, and property"?
The founding principles of America are "loser issues" to you?
Okay.
He was telling you what happened, d-bag.
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