Eminent domain
Eminent Domain is defined as the power to take private property for public use by a state, municipality, or private person or corporation authorized to exercise functions of public character, following the payment of just compensation to the owner of that property. [1]
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This topic is well-covered by the wikipedia article Eminent Domain |
House Bill 5
Virginians will have a chance to vote on the amendment concerning eminent domain in November 2012. This amendment to the preexisting Article I of the Bill of Rights has been proposed by Del. Robert B. Bell. Bell's goal with the new amendment is to only allow the minimum amount of private property to be taken for government use and for the owner to be aptly compensated. [2]
In the House of Delegates, this bill passed in the winter of 2012 with 83 votes supporting it and 14 against. [3] A closer vote was held in the Senate with 22 votes in favor and 16 votes opposing, but the bill passed through with ease. [4]
In opposition, delegate David Toscano believes that our current laws concerning eminent domain are already satisfactory in the protection of the private property owner. He was quoted saying, “If a constitutional amendment gets passed, my worry is we won’t be able to invest in public infrastructure to the extent that we need to in Virginia.” [5]
References
- ↑ Web. [1], Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System, retrieved 14 May, 2012.
- ↑ Web. Virginians to vote on eminent domain amendment, Media General Staff Reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, February 28, 2012, retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ↑ http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+vot+HV0793+HB0005
- ↑ http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+vot+SV0633HB0005+HB0005
- ↑ http://www.examiner.com/article/delegate-david-toscano-discusses-transparency-and-eminent-domain-reform