Eminent Domain in North Carolina

Once again, with BIPARTISAN support, a bill has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly. This bill, HB 878 has EIGHTY-ONE "co-sponsors" and 4 sponsors. The North Carolina House has 120 members. 85 members strongly support this bill (based on their sponsoring the bill). That's a full 71% of the chamber who supports this bill. The same bill was introduced last session -- the Democrat leadership opposed the bill and blocked any votes on the bill. Despite at least the support of 71% of the chamber, this bill has yet to see the light of day. Once again, the Democrat leadership continues to oppose this bill.

So, what could be the content of a bill that over 71% of the House strongly supports, but the Democrat leadership will not allow to the floor? Imagine, if you can, the next election cycle. The Democrat leadership, due to gerrymandering, is absolutely ensured they will never be unelected. They continue to select those who will vote for them, so they are continually NEVER at risk. They will never have to answer to voters because they will continue to select the voters instead of the other way around.

However, there are other Democrats who might actually have to put up a fight. There are a few Democrats who are in competitive districts (about 3 out of the 120 districts). And there are many Democrats who want to compete in statewide races where gerrymandering is much more difficult. So this bill will allow those Democrats to say, "See, I supported that. Heck, I co-sponsored it." But at the same time, the Democrats get to advance their agenda -- which includes strong opposition to this bill and any like it. This is how the Democrats work in North Carolina -- they claim they support something they honestly hate so they can fool voters. Then the leadership ensures that the idea they hate will never see the light of day.

So, what's in this bill? What topic is it that the people of North Carolina obviously strongly support, but the Democrats clearly hate? What idea will Democrats, in the next election cycle, claim they supported while they secretly absolutely despite? Individual property rights. The bill would amend the North Carolina Constitution:

Private property shall not be taken except for a public use. Public use does not include the taking of property for the purpose of thereafter conveying an interest in the property to a third party for economic development. The previous sentence does not apply to the taking of property which is blighted as defined by general law. Just compensation shall be promptly paid and, if demanded by the owner, shall be determined by a jury. Nothing in the previous sentence affects transfer of title pending final judgment on the amount of damages if the condemnor has deposited with the court for distribution to the owner its good faith estimate of just compensation, as provided by general law.

Nice. Can you imagine that? You can actually own property and the government can't take it because they want it? The Democrats honestly HATE this bill. Why? Because it takes power away from their greedy, dirty hands. And they'll lie to you about it, too.

The Democrat leadership who will likely ensure this bill never sees the light of day will claim that the amendment isn't needed because "that's already the law." Of course, what they're really saying is that the law is written, but if we leave things the way they are, then the General Assembly can change the law any time they like and can take any land they want whenever they want. If the Constitution were amended this way, then the General Assembly would lose the power to change the law to take any land they want, whenever they want.

Democrats want power. To have power, they need to crush freedom. If you have property rights, you have power. Democrats do not like you having power because they want all the power. They honestly believe that they know, better than you, what you should do with your land. And they do not want to give up that power. Freedom shall not live while Democrats retain power in North Carolina, as the killing of this bill will show.

Go check North Carolina Property Rights Coalition for more information about this bill and how you can help support it's passage.

Posted by: Ogre at 11:03 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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