Eminent Domain Bill Passes House
The House gave tentative approval to House Bill 853, a constitutional amendment that would prohibit governments from condemning property for private use. The vote was 112-4, much more than the three-fifths of the House needed.
It is a response to the Kelo Decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The bill faces another vote in the House Thursday before it goes to the Senate. If successful there, it would go to a statewide vote.
It's notable that Rep. Dan Blue, a Wake County Democrat and former Speaker, and Rep. Paul "Skip" Stam, a Wake Republican and the current minority leader, worked together to get this bill through. Specifically, they resisted a number of amendments that would have watered-down its effect.
Update At least one honorable was not happy to be voting on this bill.
"I'm going to vote for it to, but this is a pander vote. I'm ashamed of it," said Rep. Pryor Gibson, an Anson County Democrat who offered two of the amendments to the bill, both of which failed.
Click here to listen to Gibson give his reasons.
Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Guilford Democrat, didn't much like it either.
"It's pretty clear to me that we do not need a constitutional amendment, that the statute is adequate, and that's why I'll be voting no."
Comments (2)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
I would expect nothing less of Pricey Harrison.
I do not know the other jerk.
Posted on May 24, 2007 11:19 AM
Badmouthing a bill and then voting for it? No wonder so many people are so cynical about politicians.
Good on Pricey.
Posted on May 24, 2007 4:32 PM