The House Rules Committee — the one in which House Bill 878 (eminent domain amendment) is stuck — is meeting on May 1. Their agenda, as distributed via e-mail by Rules Clerk Dot Crocker this morning, is below. As you can see, HB 878 is not on the agenda for the meeting, lending further credence to the idea that the legislative leadership is intent on killing this amendment without allowing to to come to the floor for a vote.

NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

COMMITTEE MEETING NOTICE AND BILL SPONSOR NOTIFICATION
2007-2008 SESSION

The following is the text of an email from Kieran Shanahan, Chairman of the N.C. Property Rights Coalition:

If you share my belief that private property is a fundamental right of Americans, please take action TODAY.

On March 15, a bipartisan bill to protect our private property from unjust seizure by governments was introduced in the N.C. House. Four days later this bill, HB 878, was referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. It is still stuck in that committee.

It appears that the legislative leadership is again attempting to stop any efforts to allow North Carolinians to vote on an amendment to prevent eminent domain abuse. Eminent Domain amendments have been introduced in both chambers. Neither bill has come to a vote; they are stuck in committee.

The House version of the bill, HB 878, has 96 sponsors and co-sponsors. There are 120 members in the House, meaning that 80% of House Members have signed onto this legislation. 80% of House members have signed onto this bill, yet it has still not come up for a vote.

From Carolina Journal Online:

Case involving Weddington elaborates on minimum services required

By Michael Lowrey
April 13, 2007

RALEIGH — In a recent ruling, the state’s second highest court upheld an annexation by the Union County town of Weddington, holding that the provision of increased police protection by itself is enough to allow for annexation.

The Weddington case amplified a landmark decision issued in early 2006, when the N.C. Supreme Court held that municipalities must provide actual services of benefit to landowners they wish to annex. The high court, however, didn’t define what qualified as the minimum services necessary to allow for annexation. more…

Associated Press article, posted on the WWAY-TV3 Web site: NC legislators want eminent domain amendment put to voters in ‘07.

Release from Rep. Paul Stam:

Republican leaders in the General Assembly chided the Democratic majority, Tuesday, for delays in considering a state constitutional amendment strictly limiting government power to take land for other than a “public purpose.”

“When there’s a consensus, that’s the time to act,” said House Republican Leader Paul “Skip” Stam (R-Wake). Ninety Six sponsors have signed on to House Bill 878, which would send offer voters an amendment to the constitution. Nationwide, the fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. New London, in 2005, has inspired states to reaffirm protections for private property by setting limits on eminent domain.

Eminent Domain reform was the primary topic of this morning’s press conference by N.C. House Minority Leader Paul Stam and N.C. Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger. Below is a press release from Sen. Berger’s office.

Eminent Domain: Press Release from Sen. Phil Berger’s Office