Recently, Government has been seizing private property through eminent domain to enable private development on the stolen property.

Libertarian US Senate candidate Jeffrey Russell declares that “The Fifth Amendment clearly limits the power of eminent domain to taking property for public use. It does not grant the government the power to take private property from one individual and give it to another individual. Governments should not be allowed to seize private property simply because they believe they can get more tax revenues. When property is taken for public use, the Fifth Amendment clearly states that there must be just compensation.”

New York Libertarians are calling on US Senate Majority Leader Bill First (R-TN) to unblock legislation that would deny federal economic development funds for two fiscal years to governments that use eminent domain to transfer property to private developers. State Libertarian Chair Richard Cooper terms such economic development schemes “unconstitutional eminent domain abuse and legalized theft.” The “Private Property Protection Act of 2006” must be brought up for a vote by September 29th or die without action.

The bill has passed the House and is now awaiting consideration and further action by the Senate.  Brian Higgins and Louise Slaughter voted against this legislation that would help protect your Constitutional private property rights.