Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Highlights Importance of Protecting Property Rights
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt yesterday highlighted the necessity of safeguarding Missourians’ right to own property and protecting them from eminent domain abuse. His presentation was part of the Missouri Farm Bureau’s Property Rights Day at the capitol.
"We must ensure that eminent domain abuses in Missouri are forever ended. We must strike a balance to protect property owners’ rights and to allow the taking of private property only where there is a clear and direct public purpose," Blunt said. "Property ownership is among our most basic rights as a people. It is government’s role to protect those rights."
In Kelo v. City of New London the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that could allow governments to take private property for the use and profit of private interests. In response, Blunt formed the Missouri Task Force on Eminent Domain to examine Missouri’s laws and identify improvements to balance the needs and rights of property owners and the needs of the public. Their final report included 18 recommendations, all of which the governor believes, if enacted, will make a meaningful difference in curbing eminent domain abuse in our state.
The recommendations include, among other things, defining ‘just compensation’, ‘blight’, ‘public use’ and ‘good faith negotiations’ and enacting laws to ensure property owners are made aware of their rights and have adequate time to engage in the eminent domain process. Blunt also agrees with the task force that Missouri law should prohibit eminent domain use to take farm land for economic development purposes.
In the State of the State address Blunt emphasized the importance of improving Missouri’s eminent domain laws. He is looking forward to working with the General Assembly to pass strong legislation aimed at protecting private property owners’ rights and pledged to keep legislators at the capitol until the job is done.
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