(Columbia) January 24, 2006 - Gov. Mark
Sanford joined with lawmakers in the House and
Senate on Tuesday to announce legislation
designed to limit government’s ability to seize
private property.
Three bills have been introduced in the S.C.
Senate, with companion bills to be introduced
this week in the House, that are aimed at
protecting private property rights by limiting
governments' eminent domain powers.
In his State of the State
address , Gov. Sanford said
the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Kelo vs.
City of New London, Connecticut, has shown a
need for further eminent domain protections in
South Carolina and that he will work with
leaders in the General Assembly to promote that
legislation in the coming year.
Watch
Sanford's 2006 State of the State
Address
"A fundamental part of quality of life is the
notion of ownership of one's property, and
that's what these bills are ultimately all
about," Gov. Sanford said. "The Kelo decision
means we have to act now to protect property
that people have invested money, work and time
into over the course of many years. Property
ownership is one of our most fundamental rights,
and I'll work with the House and Senate in the
coming session to make sure that right is secure
in South Carolina."
Chip Campsen (R-Charleston) says, "We need to
strengthen the definition of public use and
reassert that in South Carolina, you can't take
private property and give it to another entity.
If there is some public benefit there must be an
important use before that occurs"
The current bills address a number of areas
in the law highlighted by the Kelo decision. If
passed, the bills would ensure condemned
property would be used for legitimate public
uses as well as better defining public use,
prohibit public bodies from delegating eminent
domain powers, prohibit condemnation simply for
'blight,' and allow property owners to
re-purchase property at condemnation prices if
the property isn't used within ten years.
Since the Kelo decision, at least 35 other
states have begun work on strengthening their
eminent domain statutes. Several states are
considering constitutional amendments, while the
governor of Connecticut, where Kelo originated,
has called for a moratorium on cities using
their eminent domain powers.
Alabama and Texas both called a special
legislative session to deal with the issue.
Posted 10:43am by Bryce
Mursch
