House Votes to Deny Funds to Localities Using Controversial Eminent Domain Rules

AP reports that late today, the US House of Representives, on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis, voted to deny federal funds to states and local municipalities that follow the highly controversial Supreme Court ruling known as Kelos vs. New London. handed down in June 2005 by the US Supreme Court.

Reports AP, "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.'

To be specific, the bill would withhold for two years all federal economic development funds from states and localities that use economic development as a rationale for property seizures. It also would bar the federal government from using eminent domain powers for economic development.

The Bush Administration strongly backed this bill, saying in a statement that "private property rights are the bedrock of the nation's economy and enjoy constitutionally protected status."

At last...an issue on which almost all Americans heartily agree.. Democrats and Republicans alike in every city of this nation (and all across the blogosphere) disagreed strongly with this 2005 Supreme Court decision.

The threat of denial of federal funds to any state or city seizing private property, including churches and private homes, to benefit other than vital community-wide projects as schools and highways, will be certainly be sufficient to end the odious practice.

This legislation will be strongly welcomed on a bipartisan basis as a rebuke of the Supreme Court for activism and law-making from the judicial bench. The bill goes to the Senate, where Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has introduced similar legislation.
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Related Article -- Supreme Court Expands Eminent Domain Powers at US Politics at About.com
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