May 9, 2006

Kelo and the Candidates

The Tennessee Senate has passed the weakest proposed legislation to reign in governmental abuse of eminent domain powers in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo decision. Kelo made it alright for government to use eminent domain to take private property and give it to a private developer for any reason at all. The new legislation passed by the Senate would do little to change that in Tennessee. Joe Powell explains here.

Last year, when the Kelo decision was handed down, I queried all candidates for the U.S. Senate from Tennessee with a few simple questions about their view of the decision.

Republicans Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary came out quickly and forcefully against Kelo, as did Democrat state Sen. Rosalind Kurita.

Democrat Harold Ford Jr. didn't respond, but did call Kelo a "positive" ruling on a Nashville radio show, before later backtracking.

Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker - a wealthy real estate developer who as mayor used eminent domain powers - took four weeks to respond, and when he did his response was, to be charitable, weak.

Bryant and Hilleary's responses showed a deep understanding of the issue, and a serious committment to address the issue if they are elected to the Senate. Corker's five-sentence response showed a lack of seriousness about addressing Kelo.

Here is Hilleary's response on the Kelo issue. Bryant put out a statement shortly after the Kelo decision was handed down, and then also responded to my questions.

Though most of my readers know I plan to vote for Bryant, not Hilleary, in the GOP primary, I don't mind saying that, as good as Bryant's response and statement were, Hilleary's was just a bit better.

Corker's was abysmal.

You can read all my Kelo-related posts here.