3 Reasons a Campaign Attacks for being Weak on Eminent Domain Work

Who is attacking whom on eminent domain? Ted Cruz is hitting Donald Trump on eminent domain by saying Trump took property from a little old lady to build a parking lot for limousines.

Could this work? Vanity Fair asked the Club for Growth. The Club for Growth pointed to these 3 reasons for why it could.

  • plays well with focus groups
  • it makes people feel like Trump is only in it for the deal, and to screw over the little guy
  • when similar ads were run in Iowa in 2015 by the Club for Growth, Trumps poll numbers dipped

Vanity Fair | Ted Cruz Turns to Eminent Domain to Attack Trump

Did the denial of eminent domain by state regulators force the sale of a $1.1 billion pipeline? Possibly yes.

What state regulators refused eminent domain powers for a pipeline? Georgia

Why did Georgia deny eminent domain authority? For reasons including that the pipeline would not provide any direct benefit for Georgia, the pipeline only went through the state without dropping off goods in the state.

What happened after the denial of eminent domain by state regulators? 4 things.

  • Delay
  • A legal appeal of the denial of eminent domain
  • the company announced that the project may be completed without eminent domain by reaching agreements with landowners
  • the company is looking to sell off the pipeline project for $1.1 billion

Houston Chronicle | Kinder Morgan seeks to sell stakes in two big projects

Is Eminent Domain a New York Value? Yes, 3 Reasons Why.

In an Op-Ed about Bloomberg considering a 3rd party run for President, eminent domain is labled a New York value because:

  • In Manhattan “property rights of small homeowners and business people are like bugs on the windshield of the city’s swashbuckling real estate developers and the ribbon-cutting politicians who enable them.”
  • Bloomberg campaigned against the post-Kelo backlash
  • As Bloomberg said, ““You would never build any big thing any place in any big city in this country if you didn’t have the power of eminent domain.””

L.A. Times | Op Ed: Ted Cruz is right—most New York values don’t work for the rest of the country

Reason | New York Values Are Infecting Campaign 2016

Trend: Legalization of Marijuana and Eminent Domain Unite

How can legalization of marijuna and eminent domain ever be connected? If you’re a candidate for the Lt. Gov. of Missouri you propose a new agency that seeks to look for medical cures and regulates legalized marijuana and give it the power of eminent domain.

Missouri Times | The Missouri Legislature Must Not Let Brad Bradshaw Hijack Medical Cannabis to Create Constitutional Oligopolies and Grow Government

How many Eminent Domain Actions? How many Acres Condemned? How many miles of Rail built?

California High Speed Rail Authority is in the throws of building the first stretch of rail, here’s where the project stands:

  • 305 eminent domain actions since December 2013
  • Acquiring more then 1,160 acres in Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties by eminent domain
  • 29 mile stretch of rail

Fresno Bee | More properties up for condemnation for high-speed rail

California High Speed Rail Authority | Construction Package 1: Work is Underway

Lege Trend: Senate Resolution to Block Eminent Domain Authority. 3 Keys Points Opposing Eminent Domain.

What state has a legislator trying to stop eminent domain authority? Illinois State Sen. Kyle McCarter  

What project does the IL State Senator want to stop? Grain Belt Express Clean Line power project

Why is he opposed to the clean power line using eminent domain? 

  • Because he supports the private property rights
  • Because the project offers no clean energy for Illinois
  • Because the eminent domain authority resides with a private company, held by private investors

Illinois Business Journal  McCarter objects to eminent domain for midstate transmission line project

 

Comptroller's Eminent Domain Data Base Getting Attention

Wharton area residents are reciving information on Comptroller Hegar’s legislative enacted Eminent Domain transperancy data base set to go online soon. 

Wharton Journal Spectator | New law promotes transparency for eminent domain

Comptroller Eminent Domain Transparency Project

Lege Trend: East Coast Governor Signs Bill for More Relocation Costs for Land Owners

Pennsylvania House Bill 1411 has been signed into law. It will:

  • ensure no loss of critical federal highway dollars
  • maximum re-establishment expenses reimbursable for a displaced farm, nonprofit organization or small business is increased from $12,000 to $25,000
  • maximum amount of the replacement housing supplement for homeowners is increased from $27,000 to $31,000
  • maximum amount of the replacement housing supplement for tenants and others is increased from $6,300 to $7,200

PA State Rep. John Taylor | Taylor Eminent Domain Bill Signed by Governor

WDAC The Voice | PA Eminent Domain Bill Signed By Governor

A Fredericksburg Area Eminent Domain Case By the Numbers

Estimated legal Fees for the City of Culpeper:  $1 Million

The Appraisals for the land being seized by eminent domain:

  • Low Appraisal: $130,000
  • High Apprisal: $3.4 million (including damages)

Amount of the Bond the city had to place in escrow: $466,467

The value of a deed of trust held by a Maryland bank on the $466,467 escrow account: $1.6 million

Offer for land in fair market value transaction: $16.1 million

Fredericksburg Free Lance Star | Culpeper landowner battling town over value of land taken for road