BETTE DAVIS SAYS, “GIT OFF MAH PROPERTY!”:

Angry over a recent Supreme Court decision, the House on Thursday began a legislative drive to roll back the power of local governments to seize homes and other private property for economic development projects.

By a vote of 231 to 189, the House approved an amendment forbidding the administration from spending money on local projects that seize private property for business development.

“What all of us who wish to see this legislation enacted into law want to make sure happens is that the federal government’s money isn’t used to finance taking someone’s property from them to build a strip mall,” said Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.).

In their opinion, the justices noted that state legislatures are free to pass laws that bar officials from condemning property for private development. California and at least eight other states have laws on the books that forbid the use of the eminent domain power to condemn private property for economic development, except in “blighted” areas.

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Via How Appealing.

Tell your governor to sign the “Hands Off My Home” pledge. (more)

And, for those who need yet more reminders of the stakes, The Agitator has a list of localities moving to seize property in the wake of Kelo. Link via Hit & Run.