Roanoke Tea Party

Constitution Amendment for Eminent Domain Reform

Part 1 and Part 2 of our series on key legislative initiatives in Richmond for 2011. We will be supporting many of these items at Lobby Day on January 17 and throughout this legislative session.

From our friends at Tertium Quids:

 ”In the 2007 General Assembly session, a statute was passed that prohibits private property from being taken by eminent domain for the primary purpose of benefiting a second private party, or for economic development, or for job creation, or for tax revenue enhancement. The eminent domain reform statute also prohibits the government from taking more property than needed to achieve a stated public use and forbids the government from taking one person’s property because adjoining property is blighted.

Since 2007, the condemnors’ lobby attends every session of the General Assembly in an attempt to weaken the good eminent domain reform statute that is now on the books. We must pass a constitutional amendment to protect private property, because constitutional amendments cannot be changed without a vote of the people who are seldom inclined to weaken their own property rights.”

The push to make these eminent domain laws permanent through a constitutional amendment was driven home by events that occurred right here in Roanoke.

Almost a year ago, Carillion and Roanoke City council used eminent domain laws in an outrageous manner that violated the property rights of local citizens. If you aren’t familiar with this situation, read the following links.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/228575

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/228303

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/18/roanokes-eminent-domain-shame/

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2009/nov/20/ed-hinkle20_20091119-183204-ar-24048/

Please join the Roanoke Tea Party and other groups across the state in lobbying your delegates and state Senators to amend the state constitution and permanently restrict ridiculous use of eminent domain laws.