Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Rep. David Wolkins (R - Winona Lake) strongly protested a June 24 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing government in Connecticut to seize individual's property against their will using eminent domain, a governmental process used to confiscate private property in the name of "economic development."
A 5-4 ruling against homeowners in New London, Conn., allows new abilities for eminent domain. Town residents from New London now can be forced from their homes to make way for a hotel, office building and privately funded facilities. The government will pay all those affected fair market value for their properties, whether they agree to the operation or not.
"This decision is simply mind-boggling," Wolkins said. "Our Supreme Court has legislated a cloud of suppression that darkens and eradicates American homeowner rights. Karl Marx could not have redistributed wealth this efficiently. This decision is absolutely wrong."
The Court ruling now allows city and county government to acquire land for the use of private companies and enterprises, whereas before the land could only be taken from residents for public use. Before, the term "public use" justified the vacating of properties for the construction of such things as roads, schools and airports and excluded any action involving private enterprise.
"This is a tough situation," Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said today. "City officials must be diligent in their use of eminent domain and not overextend their powers. I can't imagine ever taking away people's homes for private enterprises just to help in a money-making process."
Though many local governments do not believe the recent ruling will spark new cases of eminent domain, Wolkins plans to protect communities from future decisions on the issue.
"I will not stop pressing our state to protect the rights of individual homeowners and business owners against the possible abuse of governmental power," Wolkins said.
