A group of Missouri property rights activists has formed Missouri Citizens for Property Rights to place two constitutional amendments on November's ballot. Last week, a special MEDAC committee studied the language and formally endorsed it.
The amendments would:
Limit the use of eminent domain to “the state or political subdivisions of the state whose officials are directly responsible to elected officials”.
Limiting the use of eminent domain to the traditional, truly public, uses of property by prohibiting the taking of property for the use or ownership of private entities. Provisions for regulated utilities ensure that they will continue to be able to provide services.
Allow the ordinary free market considerations when establishing “just compensation”.
Permit the original owner, or his heirs, the first opportunity to buy back property taken for a public use and later sold.
Eliminate the practice of using eminent domain to deal with “blighted, substandard, or insanitary” areas. This practice has resulted in the taking of non-problem properties along with the offending properties. The amendment will change the focus to that of protecting the property rights of the neighbors of the offending properties rather then punishing them along with the owners of the “blight”.
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