Kelo VS. New London Finally Gets Addressed By The Legislature

Kelo VS. New London was the supreme court case that allowed virtually any government in the country that could legally use eminent domain, to use it any way they might want to, not excluding taking your property and giving it to someone more connected than you.

Yesterday the house unanimously passed H.R.1689 – Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2017.

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (03/22/2017)

Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2017

This bill prohibits a state or political subdivision from exercising its power of eminent domain, or allowing the exercise of such power by delegation, over property to be used for economic development or over property that is used for economic development within seven years after that exercise, if the state or political subdivision receives federal economic development funds during any fiscal year in which the property is so used or intended to be used.

The bill also prohibits the federal government from exercising its power of eminent domain for economic development.

Private property owners or tenants suffering injury as a result of a violation of this bill may: (1) bring private actions, or (2) notify the Department of Justice (DOJ). DOJ must investigate notices of alleged violations, provide the government authority with 90 days to cure any violations that exist, and bring actions to enforce this bill if the government is still in violation after the 90-day period. DOJ must also intervene in private actions if necessary to enforce this bill.

The bill prohibits: (1) state immunity in federal or state court, and (2) actions from being brought after the statute of limitation period of seven years following the conclusion of any condemnation proceedings.

DOJ must disseminate to states and the public information on: (1) the rights of property owners and tenants under this bill, and (2) the federal laws under which federal economic development funds are distributed.

The bill prohibits the federal government, or a state or political subdivision receiving federal economic development funds during any fiscal year, from exercising the power of eminent domain over property of a religious or other nonprofit organization because of the organization’s nonprofit or tax-exempt status or any related quality.

If a court determines that a violation of this bill has a disproportionately high impact on the poor or minorities, DOJ must make efforts to locate former owners and tenants to inform them of the violation and any possible remedies.

—Congress.Gov

Unanimous nice to see that we can still agree on such a basic issue. Hopefully the Senate will go along as well.

Would You Let This Woman Cat Sit, Let Alone Take Care Of The Country ?

From Hillary Clinton’s Twitter

Ambassador @McFaul is a patriot who has spent his career standing up for America. To see the White House even hesitate to defend a diplomat is deeply troubling.

–Twitter

I am certain our diplomatic staff all over the world are relieved to know she feels this way and Benghazi was just an aberration on her part.

Drink up That’s it for the Watercooler today. As always it’s an open thread