The Florida State Legislature has decided to attack property rights. They have a house and senate bill that will eliminate eminent domain as we know it.
*Update* Bill passed the Senate on second try (after a meaningless amendment) 22-19. The bill has been withdrawn from the House however by the sponsor/author who has reconsidered her position on the matter.
Currently, if a developer want's land for a comercial purpose, they must give the owner whatever price he or she wants for that land. And why not? It is theirs, they own it.
These bills HB1513 and SB2548 would change that, basically making it so that a developer can give whatever price he wants for the land so long as he gives something for it. And the land owner has no choice in the matter. Technically this is done by government paying for the land and the developer then buying it. The government gets to determine whatever a "fair" price would be and resell to the developer at that price.
This is a blatant attack on property rights: you have no right to what you own essentially.
You can voice your opinion about this to the Florida Senate or the Florida House. Don't count on them caring if you are or are not a Florida resident as one senator's response to a constituent telling him that he will not vote for him again if he supports the bill, was to tell the constituent that he doesn't appreciate threats with votes.
Read the Florida Senate version here.
Read the Florida House version here.
Why, oh why do we persist to allow this kind of sadistic activity?
Posted by: muddy at April 27, 2004 05:48 PMI don't know. Last I heard though this bill looked like it was going to pass witha close vote, but Jeb Bush may veto it.
Posted by: skywalker at April 27, 2004 05:52 PMAbsolute insanity. Who the heck was paying for that one?
Posted by: michael at April 27, 2004 06:04 PM"Why, oh why do we persist to allow this kind of sadistic activity?"
Well, my dear, what exactly do *you* plan on doing about it?
Posted by: mrs. muddy at April 27, 2004 06:05 PMmichael: developers. Part of the bill said that it can be done anytime the individual buying the land must demonstrate that it will bring in increase property tax revenue, such as through comercialization.
Posted by: skywalker at April 27, 2004 06:31 PM