The Roanoke Times reports that the eminent domain reform legislation that would amend the state constitution to resrict eminent domain takings to genuinely public uses, has passed both houses of the Virginia legislature. Julian Walker, Eminent Domain Bill Passes in Virginia Senate, Roanoke.com, February 14, 2012 – click on http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/304835. The Senate vote was 23-17. This new provision in the law will be subject to a popular referendum. The new provision in the law enjoys widespread support, but local government entities, cities and counties, are opposing it because they don’t want to pay the full amount of damages suffered by property owners in eminent domain cases, and want to consume the proverbial “free lunch” at the owners’ expense.
For our earlier take on the Virginia situation click on https://gideonstrumpet.info/?p=2816
So things are looking up in Virginia, but we won’t count the chickens until they hatch. Stay tuned.