Governor Minner vetoes SB 245 which limited government snatching of your property
Jun 30th, 2008 by DavidAnderson
Governor Minner vetoed the bipartisan SB 245. Delaware on line reported the following:
Gov. Ruth Ann Minner announced today she is vetoing legislation that would have redefined “public use” in the eminent domain law and made it harder for government agencies to take private land.
The Legislature passed Senate Bill 245 on June 12, after months of negotiations between parities involved in the issue.
The legislation would have only allowed government agencies to take private land if it was intended for “public use” and added that economic development did not meet the definition of “public.” It also would have tightened the definition of blighted, adding it must be a threat to public health and safety.
I am so glad we have the Governor looking out for the interests of the powerful. If we didn’t have people like her, the average citizen might be able to sneak a break in once in a while. I am so relieved that Marx’s vision of the government desires trumping private property is not locked up in a museum.
This bill passed with only one negative vote between the two houses, yet it is rumored that Senator Adams won’t let the veto override come up tomorrow. I hope that rumor is untrue. I respect standing with your team. I respect loyalty to the leader of one’s party. I also believe that loyalty to the people has to rank as well, hopefully first. There is no partisan benefit to sustaining the veto of a lame duck governor which flies in the face of the position of most of her own party and the vast majority of the public. To the contrary, blind loyalty here only gives ammunition to be used against Lt. Gov. Carney. I hope President Pro Tem Adams sees that sometimes it is time to place the long term interests of his party over the feelings of one member. Let them have a free vote.
For those who needed another reason not to vote for a Democrat controlled State House of Representatives, here it is. We need at least two parties in this state. Don’t turn our state into an echo chamber instead of a place where all sides are heard.
Thanks for the alert, Mr. Al Mascitti. Even more interesting is that Lt. Gov. Carney seems to be opposed to this bill, but is not commenting according to Delaware Liberal. According to TV star Mike Matthews, Jack Markell’s office issued a statement that he would instantly sign the bill.
Press guru Joe Rogalsky reports that Markell would have instantly signed this legislation because “he believes in protecting Delaware homeowners and businessowners. From a presser two weeks ago:
“The protection of private property from government seizure is one of the fundamental principles that our country was founded on,” Markell said. “Delawareans who have built homes and businesses should not have to live in fear that one day their local government will order them to sell their homes and businesses so the government can turn the land over to a private developer. Delaware will be better off when this bill becomes law.”
Mike Protack has long favored this type of legislation. I will send a request for a response to the Lee Campaign. Check back here soon. I will be shocked if Minner/Carney is not standing alone.
Can we hope that this will be the last time before leaving office that Gov. Minor (mis-spell intentional) will show her utter contempt for the people of the state of Delaware.
How many times have we had to watch as she has ignored corruption of power at Del. DOT, and DENwreck(mis-spell intentional).
Gov.Minnor may go down in history as the most inept governor this state has ever had .
If this bill fails it will open private land owners up to gready developers and their lackies in political office. We must now hope that Sen. Adams has the integrity to allow this veto overide its chance to correct a miscarriage of the peoples will.
Although I support this legislation, I would like to know Minner’s reason for vetoing it. Do you know, David?
It should not suprise anyone that she vetoed this, she also vetoed a bill a few years back that simply mandated that landowners be notified if their property was put on a preservation map.
She obviously did not want the people aware of what she had planned, and now she obviously wants the ability to take their property without compensating them for it.
Yes, it is in the article I linked to. It was also addressed in a separate post on Delaware Liberal. I didn’t find it compelling enough to even rebutt. I am more interested in getting it passed or looking beyond her. On that subject, here is a great response.
http://vimeo.com/1251971
In case that won’t work for you.
” there are two principles which separate America and the rest of the world, property rights and and the rule of law. Governor Minner’s veto violated both of those principles and will be harmful to our future economic growth. As Governor I would have signed SB 245.” Mike Protack
We must now hope that Sen. Adams has the integrity to allow this veto overide its chance to correct a miscarriage of the peoples will.
LOL.
The Governor has her priorities and her special friends mean more than the people.
Some thought that her rather humble origins would give her a more ‘people oriented’ outlook. Instead, she has chosen to throw in with the elitists and moneyed special interest.
What is regrettable is the lack of an effective mechanism for a veto override. This is not the rule in Washington and most other states. Perhaps the sense of bipartisan pseudo-collegiality is just a facade for maintaining a status quo that works quite well for the insiders.
Perhaps it is time for a real grass-roots revolt that ignores what passes for leadership and drains any feeling of enthusiasm that comes with issue-oriented politics.
From Delaware Libertarian:
: Monday at 4:30pm at the Christian Mall Park-and-Ride free buses will be taking anyone who wants to go to Leg Hall to fight for this legislation. They will return by 8pm.
UPDATE - Another Bus Location Added: 3: 45 pm The bus will depart the crossroads shopping center, Route 9, New Castle Ave. (park near the laundromat).
If you think you can go, please contact Ed Osborne to RSVP by 7pm Sunday 6/29 @ 302-636-0450 or 302-723-1488.
[…] Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner has vetoed SB245, which would have set limits on the government snatching of private property. The bipartisan bill received only one negative vote between both houses of the Delaware legislature. However, it is rumored that the Democrat Senate leader will not permit an override vote. […]
David, I checked your links and still don’t know Minner’s defense of her veto. I am still interested to know, yet have seen nothing so far.
This lack of information moves people like Arthur Downs to play the straw man game, that is, speculate on motivations then attack them.
I am dumbstruck by the fact that this compromise legislation is the result of one year of negotiations and supported by a veto-proof majority in the General Assembly, yet when the veto override vote was taken it did not prevail!
What is wrong with this picture??? Plenty!!!
Perry - I think you are overlooking it. Her reasons were well documented between delawareonline and the blogs.
It is hard to get first hand information. Senator Venables said today on WDEL that is was Labor calling in the votes.
Here is Mike Matthews aborted interview attempt with Senator Cloutier on the issue. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS9GWfIu924
She just turned away without a word. I invite her to clarify her position. Maybe she just wasn’t ready at the moment to be on camera when she was just getting her coffee.