House votes to stop eminent domain land grab for private use.

[-..__...]

I'm glad to see that Congress stepped up to the plate to try and put and end to this disgracful bull shit.



WASHINGTON - Contending that the Supreme Court has undermined a pillar of American society, the sanctity of the home, the House overwhelmingly approved a bill Thursday to block the court-approved seizure of private property for use by developers.

The bill, passed 376-38, would withhold federal money from state and local governments that use powers of eminent domain to force businesses and 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 private property, civil rights, farm and religious groups that said it was an abuse of the Fifth Amendment's "takings clause." That language provides for the taking of private property, with fair compensation, for public use.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051103/ap_on_go_co/seizing_property">More...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. what in the world made Congress do this?

Developers didn't give the repukes enough money?

[The Judged]

12. No, Repukes own the priciest RE like waterfront properties - self defense!

[BattyDem]

2. Well, what do you know ...

they finally did something right!

In other news ... hell has frozen over and pigs have developed the ability to fly. :P

[Giant Robot]

3. Ummmm. Wow. I don't know what to say here.

Umm. Thanks for stepping up to the challenge guys. We the people appreciate it.

[stop the bleeding]

4. OK - I am waiting to wake up,still waiting, still waiting, ummm

maybe this is real and not a dream.

[Ian David]

5. Yay! I think this is a good thing!

We need to make sure we call the right-wing talk radio and let them know that contrary to what Limbaugh has said, Liberals are not in favor of taking away people's homes.

When it comes to this issue, I think that for once we are in agreement with the Freepers.

[npincus]

6. great news.... SCOTUS really lost their marbles on that one

[Ioo]

7. Yah! - That's it, I am voting Republican from now on!

I mean they did one good thing...

I will forget about the 1.4 trillion bad things....

Is this not the Republcan way!

Vote Republican, and keep your house, until the bank finds out you lost your job, GO REPUBLICAN!


:puke: I feel sick for saying it...

[madrchsod]

8. but what the hell are the guys

going to tack on to this bill? it`s time they did something right for a change....

[Xithras]

9. I read it and found out why the Pubbies did this: it protects churches

I just looked up HR 4128 on thomas.loc.gov and read the whole thing expecting to find some kind of catch.

It's actually a very well written law, but toward the bottom it becomes clear why the Pub's supported this. It has a clause in it that specifically prohibits the taking of tax-exempt church properties for economic development. I recall that after the Kelo ruling there were a lot of fundies worried that their churches were going to be bulldozed because they don't contribute tax revenue. This law seems to be the result.

That point aside, it's actually a very well balanced piece of legislation. The feds can't actually ban states from practicing eminent domain, but this law will cut them off from all forms of federal economic development funding for a two year period if they try to claim someones property to resell it to another. Since that will cost most states hundreds of millions to billions in federal grants every year, it's unlikely that any will attempt to use it if this passes.

It may be a pubbie piece of legislation, but I can support it.

[zbdent]

10. That should really piss off the Repukes

since it's not really benefitting the poor when communities do a land grab of the homes of the poor and powerless and hand the land over to developers . . .

[Silverhair]

11. Republican and Democrats can work together after all... sometimes.

Great and badly needed piece of legislation.

[The Judged]

13. Finally, important legislation for all Americans that own homes!

Even if the Republicans only did it because their own interests in Real Estate were able to be undermined by local governments!

Now, lets watch the US Senate screw the whole thing up!

If they do, then I will personally begin a campaign to throw the bums out!

[Pushed To The Left]

14. Excellent news!

This seems to be one of those few issues that the right and the left can agree on. Unfortunately, some people on the right are trying to paint liberals and/or Democrats as supporting this type of eminent domain. Judging by talking to other Democrats and progressives, this is simply not the case!

[long_green]

15. Nothing to say but...

congratulations to the House. And thank you.

I wonder if this gets passed if Delay isn't off somewhere trying not to be sent to prison.