Speaker Appointing Select Committee to Protect Private Property Rights
Statement by Speaker Bense regarding Supreme Court Decision
For Immediate Release Contact: Towson Fraser
JUNE 24, 2005 (850) 488-1450
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – "I am extremely concerned by the United States Supreme Court's ruling yesterday in the case of Kelo v. City of New London," said Florida House Speaker Allan Bense. "Private property rights are a fundamental principle upon which our nation was founded, and government should only be allowed to deny a United States citizen those most basic rights under the most extraordinary circumstances.
"Ordinarily, we expect eminent domain to be asserted only in situations with a clear public necessity and clear public benefit. When it is used in a situation involving private companies, with an inherent profit motive, people should be extremely skeptical and in a situation such as the one in Connecticut their outrage is understandable.
"Fortunately, the court's majority opinion did recognize that state legislatures could and should clearly set parameters for when the assertion of eminent domain was appropriate.
"Therefore, in an effort to make sure the private property rights of Florida citizens are protected, I am immediately appointing a select committee of the Florida House of Representatives, with Rep. Marco Rubio as its chairman, to review Florida's Constitution as well as relevant statutes, rules and ordinances. Their task will be to identify any areas of ambiguity and recommend appropriate changes to make sure the unfortunate situation we've seen in Connecticut is not repeated in the state of Florida."
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Read the new proposed Bill here:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/bills_detail.aspx?Id =17834&Here is the actual wording of the proposed Bill HJR 31 here (.pdf):
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/loadDoc.aspx?FileNam e=_h0031__.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0031&S ession=2006
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