Virginia Legislature looks to put penalties on state & local governments that usurp private property rights

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A constitutional amendment to further strengthen Virginia’s private property rights …

The House Judiciary committee in the Virginia State Legislature approved HR 1433, the “Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2011" in January of this year ...

According to a press release from one of the measure’s co-sponsors, Rep. Bob Goodlatte:

…prevent [state and local] governments from taking property from one private entity and giving it to another private entity. When abuses occur, this legislation will prohibit localities and states from receiving federal economic assistance on all economic development projects, not just those upon which abuses occur, for two years for each violation.

While this legislation cracks down hard on private-private transfers, it would not prohibit the use of eminent domain for traditional, purely public purposes.

Other State legislatures, and even the Federal House Of Representatives are considering such bills.