[ImaGraftedBranch]

In Alabama, Republican Gov. Bob Riley is drawing up a bill that would prohibit city and county governments from using eminent domain to take property for retail, office or residential development.

State Motto: We Dare Defend Our Rights!

[Batrachian]

What I don't understand is how local elected officials can seize property like that and not worry about getting thrown out of office by a furious electorate, or are their kick backs from those deals so lucrative that they just don't care?

[Rastus]

In Texas and California, legislators have proposed constitutional amendments to bar government from taking private property for economic development.

We'll see. There are people losing their homes in Arlington right now so the new Cowboy stadium can be built. I don't see the state wanting to end that practice. It's one thing when somebody wants to build a shopping center, but governments love stadiums.

[sergeantdave]

"Excuse me, sir, I'm from the planning commission and need to drive this bulldozer through your living room. We bought a new park bench for you. It's down the road a tad. Just throw the sleeping bum off. It's yours...at least till we put that roller skating rink in."

[Rastus]

bttt

[hdrabon]

The North Carolina real estate industry is TOO in the hands of the state's legal industry for the legal industry controlled legislature and attorney governor to EVER do ANYTHING substantive to "blunt" the decision. . . .