Welcome to the Future!
Private property rights proponents say the RRC common carrier rules do not go far enough to protect private proeprty rights. 10 years ago, maybe this wouldn’t be a big deal. But, there’s an oil and gas boom in a state that has 97% of its land privately owned. If a private company wants to build a pipeline to move the oil and gas; it’s going to have to deal with private landowners.
Property rights proponents say the common carrier rules are:
Landowners are on a winning streak with private property rights arguments in Texas courts. Most wins occur when a private company, like a pipeline, uses eminent domain. The murky territory of private companies acting like public entities.
On December 18th, the Court of Appeals for the 9th District will hear oral arguments in a case between land owners and a pipeline. These landowners won with the Texas Supreme Court. The Supreme Court sent common carrier standards back to the a…
John Stewart took on eminent domain. It’s hilarious, as always. Here’s an excerpt:
“I am disturbed by eminent domain abuse, because I think private property rights are fundamental to who we are as Americans… I don’t we should be helping out private interests,” Cruz said. “The problem with the Keystone Pipeline isn’t the issue of Eminent Domain, the problem is the Obama administration with the stroke of a pen shut that project down.”
“What the f–k?” Stewart said before mocki…
This week the Railroad Commission passed rules to address when eminent domain attaches to certain common carriers. The rules will become official March 1st. The fight is making a beeline to the Legislature, which historically favors private property rights.
Background: This eminent domain fight began because of court cases, which sided with landowners & private property rights. Legislation moved forward in 2013, but died on an elegant point of order. [
Posted in2013 legislation, compensation, easement, legal trend, legislation trend, pipelines/common carriers, private company, private property rights, process & procedure, railroad commission
UT Regants had put Players on the eminent domain chopping block in 2004. Players was saved from eminent domain and UT ultimately paid fair market value for the property. The Austin Chronicle details the eminent domain challenges Players faced. [Austin Chronicle] A Republican sold out landowners by passing a bill to form a special district for reservoir management. The special district was granted the power of eminent domain. This gave rise to campaign material in Alabama, a Southern property rights state. [AL.com] Richmond, California set a trend for using eminent domain to take over underwater mortgages. It has been a controversial program that has been winding its way through the courts and is now the undercurrent of campaign mailers. The National Association of Retailers have gotten involved in the Richmond City Council races because of eminent domain. The Realtors are supporting candidates who oppose eminent domain.
Posted inactivism, campaigns, legislation trend, private property rights
Resfreshing our recollection, two professor types published a paper for Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Their conclusions did not favor eminent domain and has become an anthem for property rights advocates. The Editorial Board at The Oklahoman took an economic spin from the research, and write about optimistic economic development projections, that often fail to take into account opportunity costs. The Editorial Board pushes for more protections for property owners. <... The author of the forth coming book, The Grasping Hand: Kelo v. City of New London and the Limits of Eminent Domain , is touring the country speaking about eminent domain. This will… Thousands of years ago salt was a valuable commodity. Empires were built on salt. Today, the Tax Foundation uses a George Mason University Eminent Domain Paper to empirically state that eminent domain is not worth it. The Tax Foundation highlights that eminent domain has a negative relationship with economic revenue growth. “The gamble against private property rights rarely pays off.” Hear that sound? It’s the printers of private property rights advocates printing this pa…Memory Lane: Eminent Domain, UT and Players
Creating Special Purpose District becomes Campaign Fodder
Realtors Engage In Richmond, CA Council Races over Eminent Domain
The Oklahoman Editorial Board: Eminent Domain Should Be Narrowly Tailored
Eminent Domain Book Tour In Progress
Tax Foundation: Eminent Domain Not Worth Its Salt