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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Reader Responses

Posted 8:24 pm  Thursday, October 22, 2009


October 22: Group's Director Pushes For Prop. 11
We Texans value who our property and private property rights are at the very core of a free society, so when the controversial Kelo decision of 2005 came out, we had to get to work.

After input from Texas property owners around the state, the Legislature passed a bill which, if approved on the November ballot, will improve private property rights in the state of Texas.

The Kelo decision allowed local taxing entities to take property - even homesteads - if the local government could get more in tax revenues were the property converted to another use, like a shopping center.

Here is how Proposition 11 would amend the Constitution in four primary ways:

  • It would define the term "public use," rather than leaving the definition of that term up to court interpretation;

  • It would specify that the taking of property for the purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes is not a public use;

  • It would provide that property taken to eliminate urban blight must be done on a parcel by parcel basis; and

  • It would require that any future power of eminent domain granted requires a 2/3 vote of the Texas Legislature.

    • Passage of private property protection has been a long time coming in Texas. Prop 11 on the November ballot provides greater private property protection and we at Americans for Prosperity support this initiative. We recommend Texans vote "for" Prop 11.

    Peggy Venable
    Director,
    Americans for Prosperity-Texas



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