Saturday, March 7, 2009

Eminent domain co-sponsors needed--contact your State Senator and Representative

Kenneth Dierschke, Texas Farm Bureau President, has issued an appeal to contact your State Senator and State Representative and ask them to co-sponsor Senate Bill 18 by Sen. Craig Estes and House Bill 1483 by Representative Jim Pitts.

Dierschke says, "Both of these bills provide comprehensive eminent domain reforms, and each is almost identical to House Bill 2006 from last session. Senate Bill 18 and House Bill 1483 both have much needed provisions to help property owners protect their private property rights including: good faith negotiation, attorney's fees for bad faith negotiations, compensation for diminished access, and a stricter definition of 'public use.' Be advised that other Eminent Domain bills do not include the much needed 'diminished access' provisions."

"It is crucial that Governor Perry knows how strongly property owners support these eminent domain reform bills that include provisions for compensation. Each Senator or Representative can show that support by co-authoring Senate Bill 18 and House Bill 1483. If Governor Perry sees this kind of support, it will make it much more difficult to veto this legislation as he did last session."

"Powerful forces are working behind the scene to prevent these needed reforms. A grass roots effort by Farm Bureau is absolutely necessary."

Please call or write your Senator and Representative and ask for support for these bills. Find out who represents you at:

http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/

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