Category Archives: campaigns

Campaign TREND. Ballot Proposition on Eminent Domain.

Colorado Secretary of State this week certified Amendment 74 that will:

  • ensure fair compensation
  • responds to punitive government action
  • protects all private property owners, including homeowners, businesses, farmers and ranchers, urbanites and suburbanites
  • will prohibit state or local governments taking their property by reducing its value without compensation

Valley Courier | Property rights initiative certified for November ballot. 

3 Opposition Talking Points. Land Use. Ballot Proposition Backed by Farmers + Oil & Gas

Which state has this ballot proposition? Colorado Inititative 108 (2018)

What groups are backing the initiative? Colorado Farm Bureau & Oil and Gas Industry

What does the ballot proposition do? Switches compensation calculation to a fair market value standard

The opposition: Cities, Counties

Opposition Says the proposition will:

  •  spawn countless lawsuits
  • it will tie the hands of local governments and prevent any zoning or ordinances
  • we don’t know the unintended consequences

The Gazette…

Campaign TREND. Regulatory TREND. High Speed Rail + Amtrak = Eminent Domain?

Background: 

  • 2016 Surface Transportation Board did not authorize eminent domain for Texas Central Rail proposed high speed rail between Dallas and Houston
  • A 2018 partnership with Amtrak triggered a request for reconsideration of the 2016 eminent domain issue

Campaign TREND.

  • HD 8 primary run-off candidate Cody Harris says the following about eminent domain use and high speed rail:
    • “dishonest and deceitful scheme by Texas Central”
    • “attack on rural property rights”
    • ” transparent assault on…

Campaign TREND. How a candidate combines property rights & economic growth

The candidate: A candidate for county commissioner in Montana

The combination of property rights/economic growth:

  • “Individual private property rights are of paramount importance to Flathead County residents
  • and protecting individual property rights and planning for growth is not an either/or proposition.
  • We can do both,” 
  • “Government regulation of private property should only go as far as necessary to protect legitimate health and safety issues associated with that growth and no further.”

D…

Campaign TREND. Privatizing Land That Had Been Taken by Eminent Domain for Public Utilities.

The Campaign: Congressional Candidates for 2nd Congressional District in Tennessee

The Eminent Domain Issue: When the Tennessee Valley Authority was created, land was taken by eminent domain. Legislative proposals seek to privatize the Tennessee Valley Authority. 

The Candidate Responses to Privatization and Eminent Domain

  • 4 candidates of both parties oppose privatization
  • 1 Republican candidate specifically noted the use of eminent domain as a reason to oppose privatization

The Daily Times…

Campaign TREND. Republican Governor Candidate in the Cherokee Rose State. Test for Eminent Domain

State: Georgia

The Republican Candidate for Governor: Hunter Hill, a former State Senator 

His proposed test for granting eminent domain authority to a private entity:   a net benefit to the taxpayers before eminent domain can be given to private entities

WABE | Meet Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Hunter Hill

Property Rights. Land Use. Billboards. A Billboard Bill in the Sego Lily State. 3 Bits informed intel.

Utah’s HB 361 (2018) requires:

  • that eminent domain laws, including legal process and procedure, apply to billboard relocation 
    • this engages city council members in the process instead of non-elected employees
    • providse stronger guidance for compensation
  • if there is no agreement on sign price or relocation within 90 days, then the billboard comapny can relocate it. 
  • blocked signs can be relocated and raised

 

Opponents say:

  • Using eminent domain laws will add years to the process of…

Campaign TREND. 4 Republican candidates TXHD 14. 4 Different Opinions on Property Rights.

Davis:  Eminent Domain should not used by private entities

Laningham:   No eminent domain for the bullet train, which is not a public benefit

Raney:  taking someone’s property should be a respectful negotiation that satisfies the landowner

Texeira: follow the law and properly compensate landowners, otherwise landwoners should get a good lawyer

 

Bryan Eagle | Rep. John Raney faces three GOP challengers for District 14 House seat; One Democrat running

TREND. Elected Official Opposes Project Using Eminent Domain by Private Entity. Who. What. Where.

The elected official: U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-WA)

The project: Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline

What are the facts aroudn the pipeline?

  • a private foreign company may use eminent domain
  • to take American citizens’ private properties
  • to export Canadian gas to Asia

Oregon Live | Op-Ed by Landowners | Blocking eminent domain for private gain: Guest opinion