Kelo Votes in the House
In response to yesterday's vote in the House on a private property rights bill, a Club member emailed me this morning to request all similar House votes that have taken place since the awful Kelo decision from last year. Here are the relevant links:
On June 23, 2005, the Supreme Court issued their decision on the Kelo case.
On June 30, 2005, Congressman Scott Garrett (elected with Club member support in 2002) proposed an amendment to the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill that would prohibit the use of funds in the bill to be used for Kelo type activities (private-to-private takings). The House passed the amendment 231-189.
On the same day, the House voted on a resolution that expressed "grave disapproval" of the Supreme Court's Kelo decision. It passed 365-33.
On November 3, 2005, the House voted on the "Private Property Rights Protection Act" which would put teeth into the law to restrict private-to-private takings. CQ.com provides ($) a good description of the bill, "Passage of the bill that would prohibit state and local governments that receive federal economic development funds from using eminent domain to seize land for economic development purposes. Any private property owner who suffers injury as a result of a state or local government would be able to bring a lawsuit against the government or seek a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction. State or local governments that violate the restrictions in the bill could be barred from receiving federal economic development funds for the two years." This bill passed 376-38.
(Two things worth noting. First, my congressman, Jim Moran, is the leading opponent to Kelo restrictions. Grrrrr. Second, this bill has stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee thanks to Chairman Arlen Specter.)
On September 26, 2006, the House voted on a bill sponsored by Congressman Steve Chabot that would "streamline access to federal courts for people challenging government attempts to take their property under eminent domain and allow challengers to file their suits directly in federal court." The vote tally was 234-172, but failed because it was under suspension and required 2/3 majority to pass. Here's an AP story about it.
Below are the 14 House members who are extremely hostile to private property rights having voted NO on all four bills. All 14 are Democrats. Another 34 members of Congress voted NO on 3 of the 4 bills. All Democrats again, except for one Republican: Sherry Boehlert (NY-24).
| Lawmakers | Lawmakers |
| Case (HI-02) | Moran (VA-08) |
| Dingell (MI-15) | Nadler (NY-08) |
| Jackson (IL-02) | Pastor (AZ-04) |
| Levin (MI-12) | Rothman (NJ-09) |
| Lowey (NY-18) | Stark (CA-13) |
| McDermott (WA-07) | Waxman (CA-30) |
| Miller (NC-13) | Wynn (MD-04) |
