The final report of the Governor’s Task Force on Eminent Domain won’t be completed until year’s end, but House Democrats are already trying to get ahead on the issue. They’ve announced they’re putting together their own legislation to protect private property. It would prohibit government from using eminent domain to seize land for private development. State Representative Wayne Henke of Troy, Chairman of the House Rural Democratic Caucus, hopes the Task Force comes up with good recommendations, but isn’t counting on it. Task Force Chairman Terry Jarrett says Republcians and Democrats should be working together to deal with eminent domain abuses. Henke says that by having a Democratic bill, the best elements of it can be merged with the Task Force’s final report to create a good anti-seizure law.
