Eminent domain in energy bill.....has it passed yet? Worries me.

[madfloridian]

Give power companies eminent domain?

SNIP..."But the section in the House version of the bill that would take eminent domain power from states and give it to the regulator to approve lines on private land, after just a year of debate, is a mistake.

Florida seems to be already letting the power companies do as they wish.
TECO puts 12 story poles in Tampa neighborhood

SNIP...."John Ramil, TECO's president, put his credibility on the line by declaring that TECO was open to "moving or modifying the current route." We'll see if he means it. Meanwhile, Hillsborough County needs to lessen the chance this could happen again, by toughening regulations on where power lines may be placed...."

[GainesT1958]

1. They don't, in fact, have an unrestricted right to eminent domain...

And the very clause in the Fifth Amendment they so often trumpet, the "Takings" clause: "...nor be deprived of property without just compensation...", prevents that from happening. Federal court records are FULL of precedent cases of power companies being sued successfully by property owners over "takings" of land that they THOUGHT they could do under "eminent domain"--when in fact they violated those property owners' rights.

Wouldn't THAT be a twist--Repubs and their power company friends kicked in the :kick: over the very issue they SAY they always support: property rights! :crazy:

B-)

[madfloridian]

2. What about under the new energy bill if passed? Would that change it?

Salin or someone had a post on this, so did I. I can NOT find them now. It gave better links to info on this.

I am afraid that all the publicity over the Do No Call list is covering up some covert plan they are sneaking through. Don't trust them at all.

[bigtree]

3. salins latest

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=407170&mesg_id=407170

[Booberdawg]

4. Three active threads on this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=407170

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=393201

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=375948&mesg_id=375948

[madfloridian]

6. Thanks to both of you. I used good search terms, but missed them.

I had forgotten to bookmark, and I am doing that now.

[Robbien]

5. The bill is being drafted this weekend

and will go to discussion early next week. The Republicans hope to get it ratified by Friday.

[madfloridian]

7. Thanks. Called my congressman whose aide knew nothing.

Of course he never does. He even asked me what eminent domain would mean, or meant?