Kelo At One Year... President Signs EO

Tried posting earlier, but the laptop overheated. So, let's try this a second time.

It's been a busy week - NFIB had it's biennial summit early on. Lots of time with our members, which is always exhilerating. It's also a great time to connect with some of the NFIB'ers from the far-flung regions of the US. I gave a lecture at CEI for their interns, then did some serious TRI work. I was up in New York for a quick family-related trip, and now we're back.

As I was traveling, I got word from folks at the White House that the President, in honor of the Anniversary of Kelo (one year ago on Friday) and in light of continued recalcitrance on the part of the Senate to pass post-Kelo legislation, was signing an executive order (details to follow). This is good - hopefully, it will give the US Senate a much-needed kick in the pants to pass something on the order of what the house passed, and maybe it will send a signal to the legions of municipalities that are going gangbusters that maybe they ought to ratchet down the private-to-private eminent domain.

There will be more on this in a day or so. IJ has released a report demonstrating a sharp uptick in the kinds of eminent domain upheld by Kelo - a serious increase, all designed to capitalize on Kelo before the public has a chance to do what needs to be done.

Here's the official word from the White House:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

­­
­For Immediate Release June 23, 2006



EXECUTIVE ORDER

- - - - - - -

PROTECTING THE PROPERTY RIGHTS
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE


By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to strengthen the rights of the American people against the taking of their private property, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to protect the rights of Americans to their private property, including by limiting the taking of private property by the Federal Government to situations in which the taking is for public use, with just compensation, and for the purpose of benefiting the general public and not merely for the purpose of advancing the economic interest of private parties to be given ownership or use of the property taken.

Sec. 2. Implementation. (a) The Attorney General shall:

(i) issue instructions to the heads of departments and agencies to implement the policy set forth in section 1 of this order; and

(ii) monitor takings by departments and agencies for compliance with the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.

(b) Heads of departments and agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law:

(i) comply with instructions issued under subsection (a)(i); and

(ii) provide to the Attorney General such information as the Attorney General determines necessary to carry out subsection (a)(ii).

Sec. 3. Specific Exclusions. Nothing in this order shall be construed to prohibit a taking of private property by the Federal Government, that otherwise complies with applicable law, for the purpose of:

(a) public ownership or exclusive use of the property by the public, such as for a public medical facility, roadway, park, forest, governmental office building, or military reservation;

(b) projects designated for public, common carrier, public transportation, or public utility use, including those for which a fee is assessed, that serve the general public and are subject to regulation by a governmental entity;

c) conveying the property to a nongovernmental entity, such as a telecommunications or transportation common carrier, that makes the property available for use by the general public as of right;

(d) preventing or mitigating a harmful use of land that constitutes a threat to public health, safety, or the environment;

(e) acquiring abandoned property;

(f) quieting title to real property;

(g) acquiring ownership or use by a public utility;

(h) facilitating the disposal or exchange of Federal property; or

(i) meeting military, law enforcement, public safety, public transportation, or public health emergencies.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency or the head thereof; or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with Executive Order 12630 of March 15, 1988.

(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.



GEORGE W. BUSH
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It's a step - it's certainly better than where we were while Kelo was being argued.

- Andrew Langer