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August 3, 2005
Eminent-Domain Uproar
The Wall Street Journal
by Michael Corkery and Ryan Chittum
An update on the eminent domain controversy indicates that a public uproar has empowered legislatures nationwide to reign the use of eminent domain. In CT, 11-1 are against the use of eminent domain for private economic development according to a Quinnipiac poll.
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that governments had broad power to take private property to boost economic development, real-estate executives cheered.
But an unexpected backlash against the ruling stopped the cheering and threatens to derail some projects that depended on the use of eminent domain to seize property.
In the six weeks since the Supreme Court's ruling in the Kelo v. New London case, bills have been introduced in Congress and in more than half of the state legislatures that would restrict, to varying degrees, the use of eminent domain for private development. Delaware has gone the furthest, passing a law restricting the use of eminent domain. In Alabama, legislation curbing eminent domain for economic purposes has passed both houses and awaits the governor's signature.
Posted by lumi at August 3, 2005 7:19 AM