Riley expands support for eminent domain bill (Alabama)

[Judi Lynn]

Published July 19. 2005 6:01AM

Riley expands support for eminent domain bill

By Dana Beyerle
Times Montgomery Bureau
MONTGOMERY - Gov. Bob Riley will support an eminent domain bill in today's special legislation session that would prohibit cities, counties and even the state from condemning land for industries such as the state's major automotive plants, his office said Monday.

Riley will support a bill that would prohibit condemnation of private property for commercial, retail, office and residential use, spokesman Jeff Emerson said.

Riley's office stated in a press release last week that he would support legislation to prohibit municipal and county governments from using eminent domain to take property for retail, office or residential development only.

But Riley expanded his support to restrict condemnation for commercial use by local and state government agencies. "Commercial includes industrial," Emerson said.

Although none of the state's recent major automotive projects required eminent domain to claim land, the head of the Alabama Realtors' Association said major projects shouldn't be subject to one set of rules and everyone else another.
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http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050719/NEWS/507190328/1016/NEWS01
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[WhiteTara]

1. good for him

[mbperrin]

2. Go Bama!

wonder if we can get that in Texas? nahhhh..

[QC]

3. It pains me to say this about a Republican, but...

Riley is, generally speaking, a decent governor.