Proposition 11: Personal Property Rights
By: Mitch Carr
Updated: October 28, 2009
In less than a week Texans will be voting for or against more than a few constitutional amendements. One of the propositions on the November 3rd ballot is Proposition 11.
It has to do with private property rights.
Prop 11 would ban the government from taking private property via eminent domain for non-public use. In the past, state governments have used eminent domain to take farm land and turn it over to private enterprise.
Prop 11 would ensure that that could never happen.
Supporters of the proposition, like Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples, say it's about Texas values.
"The right to own and use private property is one of the most sacred rights we hold as Texans. The ability of government to abuse this right is one of the most frightening. But this elections Texans have the opportunity to let their values be known," said Staples.
Proposition 11 also contains a clause that would make it harder to declare entire nehigborhoods blighted. Previously, an area could be called blighted if multiple properties were considered the same. If Prop 11 passes, each individual property within a neighborhood would have to be declared blighted for the entire neighborhood to be declared the same.
