Senator Tom McClintock released the following statement on the United States Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London, Connecticut.

McClintock to introduce an amendment to the
California Constitution to restore the original meaning
of the property protections in the Bill of Rights

“Today the U.S. Supreme Court broke the social compact by striking down one of Americans’ most fundamental rights.  Their decision nullifies the Constitution’s Public Use clause and opens an era when the rich and powerful may use government to seize the property of ordinary citizens for private gain.”

“The responsibility now falls on the various states to reassert and restore the property rights of their citizens.  I am today announcing my intention to introduce an amendment to the California Constitution to restore the original meaning of the property protections in the Bill of Rights.  This amendment will require that the government must either own the property it seizes through eminent domain or guarantee the public the legal right to use the property.  In addition, it will require that such property must be restored to the original owner or his rightful successor, if the government ceased to use it for the purpose of the eminent domain action.”