What’s the delay people?
In 2001 on September 11th there was a horrific attack on our country. It took the legislature a short 43 days to pass the patriot act. A bill that is complex in it’s abilities to remove basic rights.
In 2005 on June 21st the Supreme jerks court decided that our rights to property was less important then a Wal-Mart. Politicians stood in unison and declared that they would pass laws to protect our homes. In the resulting 51 days exactly one state, Alabama, has passed a bill protecting the property rights of their citizens.
Besides Alabama, legislation to ban or restrict the use of eminent domain for private development has been introduced in 16 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Texas.
Legislators have announced plans to introduce eminent-domain bills in seven more states: Alaska, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, South Carolina and Wisconsin, and lawmakers in Colorado, Georgia and Virginia plan to act on previously introduced bills.
I get the feeling we are being left at the alter here. They promise a lot but have no carry through. Maybe they are trying to wait us out. How hard is it to pass a law that almost all politicians have come out in support of and that most people support?
Have you called your Tennessee representative and asked why a bill has not been passed? Here are the needed links to contact your representative in the state government.
Tennessee House
Tennessee Senate
Do not email. Call them. Let their office hear your voice.
If you do not contact them now, then you have no right to complain when they come for your house later. It’s that simple.
Update: This quote says a lot
Republican Gov. Bob Riley signed a bill that was passed unanimously by a special session of the Alabama Legislature
They called a special session to deal with this. why isn’t our politicians doing the same?
Update 2: Seems that some are calling for a special session of sorts.
It took uncommon courage and compassion for state Sen. Doug Jackson to call for a special legislative session on TennCare.
Stopping the Tenncare cuts will buy more votes then the property rights bill I guess.
August 11th, 2005 at 9:44 am
Well, the legislature is out of session here in Tennessee. Nothing ever gets done while they are out of session.
August 11th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
“Stopping the Tenncare cuts will buy more votes then the property rights bill I guess.”
Well, you’re right about that…unfortunately.