Free Republic

Fellow Conservatives: This is the last week Congress is expected to be in session, and eminent domain reform has yet to be brought to a vote.  It's time for a final, full-court press to get federal eminent domain reform passed before the 109th Congress adjourns.    As you know, H.R. 4128 passed the House over a year ago by an extraordinarily bipartisan vote of 376-38.  There is no reason this bill should be stonewalled in the Senate, but there has been no vote until now.  The Senate needs to understand that federal protections against eminent domain abuse are important to the...

In June, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled government has the right to seize homes to make way for private redevelopment, it set off fear in the hearts of homeowners and lawmakers alike. A flurry of bills and state ballot initiatives have been introduced in response to concern that the court's decision can put anyone's property up for grabs through eminent domain. That case, Kelo v. City of New London, Conn., involved seizure of waterfront homes to allow the nonprofit New London Development Group to develop a hotel and health club near a new research center. It wasn't a blighted...

WASHINGTON - Charging that the Supreme Court undermined one of the pillars of American society, the House took up legislation Thursday to block court-sanctioned seizings of people's homes for use by private developers. The bill, headed toward easy passage with bipartisan support, would withhold federal funds from state and local governments that use powers of eminent domain to force homeowners to give up their property for commercial uses. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling in June, recognized the power of local governments to seize property needed for private development projects that generate tax revenue. The decision drew criticism from...