Statement: Kelo V. City of New London

STATEMENT: Kelo v. City of New London

WASHINGTON, DC, Jul 1 - Congressman Michael C. Burgess released this statement concerning Kelo v. City of New London:

"I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 3135, Private Property Rights Protection Act, authored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI). This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for any projects in which states and localities use eminent domain for economic development purposes. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce the eminent domain power over that project. Also prohibits the federal government from using economic development as a reason for exercising its power of eminent domain."

"This legislation is essential to ensuring that homes, farms and other private property cannot be bulldozed in egregious government land grabs which benefit other private individuals whose claim to the land is that of greater wealth will increase tax revenues."

"Our Fifth Amendment rights are stated clearly in the Constitution - private property cannot be taken for public use, without just compensation. A new shopping mall does not constitute public use and the acceptance of destroying someone's home."

http://burgess.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=29861