PRA Letter Supporting “Private Property Rights Protection Act”
Apr 12, 2011
Today, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution is holding a hearing on H.R. 1433, the "Private Property Rights Protection Act," co-sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA). H.R. 1433 would suspend Federal economic development funds for a period of two fiscal years to any state that takes property through eminent domain for a private purpose. It will also allow private property owners legal recourse to fight private property takings by state and local governments that are used for private purposes.
The letter states:
As a result of the Supreme Court’s 2005 ruling in Kelo v. City of New London, the government’s power of eminent domain has become almost limitless, providing victimized citizens with few means to protect their property…
Several states have independently passed legislation to limit their power to eminent domain, and the Supreme Courts of Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio have barred the practice under their state constitutions. This bill will provide American citizens in every state with the means to protect their private property from exceedingly unsubstantiated claims of eminent domain…
Although many states have already acted, Congress must play a pivotal role in reforming the use and abuse of eminent domain.