Liberty
Matters News Service
November 16, 2006
Voters Approve Eminent Domain Reform
Voters in eight states overwhelmingly passed eminent domain reform measures with six states offering the measures as constitutional amendments. 85% of South Carolina voters voted to prohibit municipalities from seizing private property for "the purpose or benefit of economic development, unless the condemnation is for public use." The measure also toughened the broad definition of "blight" to require proof the property is a danger to health and public safety, thereby closing a large loophole. Constitutional amendments were also passed in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire and Louisiana, by similar large margins. Nevada voters approved a constitutional amendment through citizen initiative that strictly limits eminent domain abuse for private development. It will appear on the 2008 ballot. Oregon voters passed a citizen initiative that provides stronger property rights protections in Oregon's statutes. Chip Mellor, of the Institute of Justice said, "The public is right to be outraged and fearful, with such a fundamental right left to the whim of government and the influence of wealthy developers. The state response has been historic, but Congress needs to act and offer federal protection as well." Dana Berliner, also with IJ said, "...it is so surprising the U. S. Senate leadership has completely failed to address the issue."
2006 Election Wrap Up: Voters
Overwhelmingly Passed Eminent Domain Reform
Eco-Terrorists Get Their Just Desserts
The last four eco-terrorists charged with arson and sabotage in six states have plea-bargained with federal prosecutors to avoid trial. All four pleaded guilty, with only two expressing remorse for their crimes. Daniel Gerard McGowan, Nathan Fraser Block, Joyanna Zacher, face eight-year-prison terms. The fourth, Jonathan Paul, may only have to serve five years. Earlier, six others were sentenced to between three and sixteen years behind bars. The four admitted their parts in the 2001 fires at the Superior Lumber Co. in Glendale, Jefferson Poplar Farm in Clatskanie, destruction of 35 vehicles at the former Joe Romania Chevrolet Truck Center in Eugene, and the 1997 fire at the Cavel West Horse Meatpacking plant in Redmond. U. S. Assistant Attorney Kirk Engdall said, "We believe we have basically disassembled the Northwest cell of (Animal Liberation Front) arsonists" and "[T]here may be other arrests." FBI special agent Robert Jordan said, "They spent year after year using violence to try and intimidate you and your government into their twisted way of thinking. Instead of using reason and logic, they used firebombs and destruction. Instead of using peaceful, lawful methods, they used fear and threats."
Four More Guilty in String of
Arsons
Truckers Condemn Toll Roads
The executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, OOIDA, is asking truckers to bypass the Indiana Toll Road that has been leased to the Spanish investment consortium, Cintra, the same outfit that Governor Perry and TXDOT contracted with to operate the hated Trans Texas Corridor (TTC). "The Bush administration is bending over backwards to accommodate Mexican trucks coming into the United States," Spencer said. "Worldwide, trucks are the weapons of choice of terrorists. Nobody is going to check [what is really in that truck]. We evidently have a lot of people in the U. S. who have lost their minds," he continued. Spencer said once Mexican truckers cross the border they will be able to go anywhere. "There's never been any 20-mile commercial zone in Texas that the Texas Department of Public Safety enforces." Spencer said since Mexico does not have stringent safety regulations, there is no way to verify the safety of Mexican trucks or drivers. "Who is going to do a background check on a Mexican driver," Spencer asked. TXDOT wants to charge truckers 40 cents a mile to travel the TTC. "This is the equivalent of about $2.40 (per gallon) in new fuel taxes," Spencer continued. He points out that the toll revenue will go to Spain and the "no compete clause in the Cintra contract bars Texas from making improvements to parallel routes. You better believe that highway users will be forced to use the TTC toll roads even if Texas has to close down lanes on existing highways."
Truckers Call for Boycott of
Foreign-Owned Road
Global Warming On Boxer's Wish List
New Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, wants to put global warming on the front burner when the 110th Congress convenes in January. "Time is running out, and we need to move forward on this," Boxer told reporters. "The states are beginning to take steps and we need to take steps as well." Boxer said she wants to pattern legislation to curb green house gas on the measure signed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this summer. "That law imposes the first statewide cap on greenhouse gases and seeks to cut California's emissions by 25 percent, dropping them to 1990 levels by 2020," according to an Associated Press story. The Bush White House said it will cooperate with her. The president's Council for Environmental Quality requested a meeting with Boxer to discuss global warming. Bush has steadfastly refused to send the 1997 Kyoto Treaty to the Senate for ratification, but that was then. A ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency that greenhouse gases are not a pollutant under the Clean Air Act will be heard on appeal by the U. S. Supreme Court later this month.
Boxer Pledges Shift on Global
Warming Policy with New Senate Role