Voters Clamp Down On Eminent Domain

Eight states approved new measures to restrict the use of eminent domain on November 7th -- widely seen as a reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Kelo vs. New London.

1 minute read

November 10, 2006, 6:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"When the Supreme Court ruled in the 2005 case, Kelo v. the City of New London, that a government agency could seize a citizen's home and give it to a private developer, it galvanized private-property advocates.

They placed measures on the ballot in 11 states that would restrict "eminent domain," the government's right to take private property. Voters on Tuesday responded by voting in favor of the restrictive measures in eight of those initiatives -- call it Kelo's revenge.

Two other states rejected similar ballot measures, and results for one were not expected until later on Wednesday."

Most of the measures that passed limited their scope to restricting government's use of eminent domain to public purposes only. In California and Idaho, voters rejected proposals that would compensate property owners for any regulations that would limit the economic value.

Thursday, November 9, 2006 in CNNMoney.com

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