`That government can scarcely be deemed to be free, where the rights of property are left solely dependent upon the will of a legislative body, without any restraint. The fundamental maxims of a free government seem to require; that the rights of personal liberty and private property, should be held sacred.' _ Justice Story

Congressional Record of Performance on Property Rights

H.R. 4128 - Private Property Rights Protection Act Votes:

Hall of Shame:

Mel Watts Voted NO! and worked to gut the Bill

Brad Miller Voted No!

Arlen Spector blocked the Bill in the Senate! S. 3873

 

Tracking the NC Legislature Commentary Update: 10/26/08 Perhaps it's time to change the Senate Leadership? Basnight & Rand are running unopposed, but the voters still have recourse; remove their "majority" status! Who worked against Eminent Domain protection in the House? Listen to the floor debate on the passage of H878: MP3 WM part 1 WM part 2 Listen to Pryor Gibson, Lucy Allen, and Debra Ross introduce amendments to weaken the Bill, with Philip Haire supporting them. Gibson Amendment Allen Amendment Ross Amendment 08/03/07 Well...the Senate killed our chance to vote on an amendment to protect property owners from eminent domain abuse. They refused to bring the Bill, which was overwhelmingly passed by the House, to the floor for discussion before the end of the session. Remember this and make the Senate members up for re-election account for this. Being Senators doesn't make them any less responsible for acting to protect you, the individual property owner, instead of bowing to the local governments that lobbied them hard to do nothing! 07/19/07 H878 passed the House and was sent to the Senate for consideration. The Senate put the Bill in the Ways & Means Committee. This Senate Committee rarely meets and Bills sent there are often left to die. The NC Property Rights Coalition along with Americans for Prosperity held a press conference this morning to bring attention to the fate of the Eminent Domain Amendment Bill. The speakers called for action from the Senate and from citizens. Everyone who cares and is concerned about protecting NC property owners from abuse of the power to seize your land needs to write, call, and email your Senator;  Who_Represents_Me, Senator Marc Basnight, Marcb@ncleg.net  and contact the Chair of the Senate Ways & Means: Senator Charlie Smith Dannelly Charlied@ncleg.net Ask the Senators to take action on the Eminent Domain Amendment Bill. Tell them you want to vote on an amendment to the NC Constitution that would protect property owners from "Kelo" type condemnations. **************** 05/17/07 2007 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment (H878) moves from Rules Committee to Judiciary II. Committee meets May 22. Will the Bill move forward for consideration? NC Property Rights Coalition Blog Other Bills introduced to rein in eminent domain abuse: S38, Eminent Domain; S766, Eminent Domain; S704 ED Attorneys Costs **************** 2006 When the 2006 Legislative Session was over, the Legislators managed to make only a few hard fought legislative changes to the use of eminent domain in NC. The most significant was the change of language in the Redevelopment Laws limiting takings to individual parcels instead of entire areas containing multiple properties including some that are not "blighted". There is nothing enacted yet that couldn't be changed for the worse at any time in the future when the people are not paying attention. Without a well written amendment to our NC Constitution, anything that is done by Statute can change for the worse. The Committee stalled at enacting revisions to 'just compensation'. A thorough and candid examination of how vulnerable our current statutes leave NC property owners seems to be "forbidden territory"