[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14527]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        EMINENT DOMAIN DECISION

  (Mr. RYUN of Kansas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today against this recent 
Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. New London, which grossly 
misrepresents the intent and historical precedent regarding government 
taking of private property. Our Founding Fathers intended to protect 
private property by limiting government authority.
  One would expect that private property taken by eminent domain would 
become land available for public use such as parks and roads. 
Unfortunately, this decision creates a loophole for government to 
manipulate the definition of public use simply to generate greater tax 
revenue.
  Protection of private property is a fundamental right protected in a 
strong democracy. The Supreme Court's ruling is an insult to all 
Americans who have worked hard to have a home to call their own. It is 
a ruling that encourages the strong to take from the weak and flies in 
the face of what government is intended to do, that is, to protect the 
lives and property of all American citizens.

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