FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 25, 2007
 

RALEIGH – Kieran Shanahan, Chairman of the N. C. Property Rights Coalition, today called on N.C. House Speaker Joe Hackney to bring House Bill 878, an eminent domain amendment, to the House floor for a vote.  The bipartisan bill was introduced on March 15 and was referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House on March 19.  The bill, which has 96 sponsors and co-sponsors, would prevent government entities from seizing private property for economic development purposes.

“It is increasingly apparent that the ‘new-and-improved’ legislative leadership, which pledged to usher in an era of fairness and openness, is conducting politics as usual when it comes to protecting our property rights,” says Shanahan.  “The bipartisan eminent domain amendment introduced in the N.C. House should to be brought to the House floor for a vote, not bottled up in a committee.”

“More than 80% of House members sponsored or co-sponsored this eminent domain amendment, yet it has not seen the light of day since it was sent to the Rules committee,” Shanahan adds.  “I call on Speaker Hackney to bring House Bill 878 to the floor for an immediate vote.” 

“Private property rights are one of the fundamental rights of a free society,” Shanahan concludes.  “We don’t need excuses or political games.  We need to give the people the right to vote on this amendment, and we need to do it now.”

About the N.C. Property Rights Coalition

The North Carolina Property Rights Coalition (NCPRC) is a 501(c) (4) non-profit coalition of individuals, organizations, businesses and community leaders dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights and interests of property owners, as well as revealing misuses and threats of eminent domain throughout North Carolina.  More information on the N.C. Property Rights Coalition is available at www.NCPropertyRights.com.

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