Florida Approves Constitutional Amendment Limiting Eminent Domain

Amendment 8 to Florida's Constitution -- limiting eminent domain -- seemed to be the one issue that united political partisans during last week's elections, because it passed overwhelmingly. Supporters were pleased. "This draws a line in the sand and restores the balance of power for property owners to where it should be," said Carol Saviak, Executive Director of the Orlando-based Coalition for Property Rights.

According to many officials, the action is potentially crippling to local redevelopment plans. "One day in the near future, Floridians are going to wake up and realize they've been duped," said Michael Brown, the Mayor of Riviera Beach who wants to use eminent domain to clear the way for a multi million-dollar redevelopment effort in his city. "Local governments were finally trying to use eminent domain the way it was supposed to be used. Now the politicians have pulled the rug out from under them."