Senate backs land-grab limits (Texas)

[Judi Lynn]

July 13, 2005, 10:44PM

THE LEGISLATURE
Senate backs land-grab limits
Eminent domain measure similar to House's; bodies now will swap and discuss legislation
By POLLY ROSS HUGHES
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - After a spirited, four-hour debate, the Texas Senate approved a bill Wednesday limiting state and local governments from seizing homes and other private property for economic development.

Senate Bill 62, which passed 25-4, is similar to a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the Texas House earlier this week. Now, each chamber can consider the other's legislation.

Gov. Rick Perry added the eminent domain issue to the agenda for the special session so lawmakers can respond to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows local governments to take private property for economic development purposes.

"While most people, including me, think they knew what public use was, the Supreme Court said that public use could include things like economic development," said Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, the bill's author.

"The ownership of land is precious to the people of this state," Janek said. "I think people value those investments as much as they do anything else, perhaps maybe more than we do our pickup trucks."
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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3265587
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[ThoughtCriminal]

1. Where would Jr. be if this law had been around

to screw up the stadium deal?