Eminent Domain Proposal Needs Your Help

Dear Friends,

Several bills were offered in the Iowa Legislature this year to further refine Iowa’s 2006 landmark eminent domain legislation.  None were allowed out of committee.  Three were resurrected in the House as amendments, but Speaker Pat Murphy refused to allow action on any of them.  

This is unfortunate.  The truth is, the vast majority of Iowans support reigning in the abuse of eminent domain.  While “condemnation” (as it’s also called) certainly has its legitimate place in redevelopment projects and for improving our transportation infrastructure, there has been no shortage of abuse in recent years.

Consider the 400 low-income residents in Burlington, evicted from their homes two years ago to make way for a strip mall . . . that was never built!

Consider the farmers and rural residents in Madison, Clarke, Page and other counties whose land and homes are threatened by proposed lakes.

Consider the residents of Waterloo, who may lose their homes and land to a coal-fired power plant.

Consider the farmers and rural residents in Mahaska and Dallas counties, whose property has been targeted by developers for new airports.

Unfortunately, the debate on protecting the little guy and gal from big developers has become partisan, and legislative Republicans are the ones on the right side!  To my way of thinking as a Democrat, when big business and big government have sought to stretch their hand too far, the Democratic Party has historically fought for average people, for small businesses, for family farmers.  It has fought to be a voice for the voiceless.  It has worked to provide people typically denied a role in policy-making a seat at the table.  It has tried to build a base of grassroots power for the powerless.

IF DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE FAIL IOWANS ON EMINENT DOMAIN THIS YEAR, THEY NOT ONLY ABDICATE THEIR HISTORIC RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR CORE CONSTITUENCIES, THEY RUN THE RISK OF LOSING THE SUPPORT OF THESE CONSTITUENCIES IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

It’s not too late for House and Senate Democrats to do the right thing.  As of today, Republicans in the House – specifically Jeff Kaufman and Jody Tymeson – have been leading the charge.  I hope each of you will take a minute to thank them for their efforts, and more important, take another minute to ask your own senator and representative to support reform.  Remind them that we are not creating new laws but rather taking legislation passed in 2006 – favored overwhelmingly by Iowans – and creating a better, tighter law.  To contact legislators, visit http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/. Thanks!

Ed Fallon