Meanwhile, in Committee:
It was a property rights love-in July 5, as the Committee on Land and Resource Management groped the hot topic of eminent domain. HJR 19 would allow for a constitutional amendment referendum come November “to prohibit a political subdivision (or the state) from taking private property for the primary purpose of economic development.” “We requested a draft two hours after the Supreme Court decision,” said author Rep. Frank Corte, R-San Antonio, of the Supremes’ decision granting municipalities the power to seize land for private economic development. Supporting HJR 19 were the American Land Foundation, a property rights watch group; the right-wing Texas Public Policy Foundation; Citizens Against the Trans-Texas Corridor; and an endless procession of Libertarians. Larry Casto, legislative director for the city of Dallas, was one of very few speaking against HJR 19 that day. “We’re not opposing necessarily the concept … but the approach,” said Casto, who thought the resolution should provide narrow reasons for eminent domain usage, instead of a broad reason for its prohibition. A committee substitute to the bill was voted favorably and sent to Calendars, where, if added to the special session’s call by the governor, it has less than two weeks to wind its way back to Perry’s desk.This article appears in July 8 • 2005.