States Respond To Kelo

Whether you like the Supreme Court's decision in Kelo v. New London (I don't), some states are taking appropriate steps to respond- correctly, in my view, to limit eminent domain abuse.

I've chronicled below how Indiana is considering the issue in a House Study. A hearing will be held August 10, and I encourage supporters of property rights to attend and to speak up.

Blogger ProfessorBaimbridge has chronicled efforts in other states, where legislation is already passing into law, curtailing eminent domain. Backlash link.

Interesting quotes in a related USA Today article:

In Washington, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said his office received more calls from constituents angry about this case than it did for the Supreme Court ruling that limited displays of the Ten Commandments on public property. Cornyn is proposing a bill to bar cities and counties from using federal funds for economic development projects that involve seized property.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., a liberal who rarely supports Republican bills, has signed onto two GOP bills and proposed two of her own. "The people who get hurt are the many poor people and working people who don't think they can fight City Hall," she said.

In fact, anybody can be hurt by commercial eminent domain takings. Even if you are someone as huge as Simon Malls, Donald Trump could come along with a bigger project proposal for Simon's property. Etc. There's always someone bigger.

It's great that a property rights issue has stirred up such a fuss. It's about time the average American began to take note of how property rights have eroded over the years.

Hat tip to WXNT's Andrew Lee for these items.