Issue Position: Property Rights

Issue Position

Issue Position: Property Rights

There is nothing more fundamental to our economy and our free-market system than the right to own property, including the right to use it, to keep others off it, and to sell it on terms that you agree to. Currently, eminent domain abuse puts this cornerstone of society at risk.

The disastrous 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in the Kelo case gutted the Fifth Amendment's explicit conditions for the taking of private property by the government through eminent domain. Where the Fifth Amendment says "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation", the Court allowed "public use" to be changed to "public benefit", meaning that any government can claim that it's good for everyone if that government takes somebody's house to give it to a developer or corporation.

The risk from this sort of abuse is especially high for rural property owners and lower-income homeowners who do not have the political pull to keep the greedy hands of governments off their homes.

Jeff will lead efforts to prevent any municipality which abuses eminent domain from receiving federal money for such projects. He will work to strengthen local control and property rights, and to restore to Americans our historical confidence that my home is indeed my castle.

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