Anti-Kelo backlash in Congress
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's abominable decision in Kelo, members of Congress are considering ways to stop local governments from taking the property of poor and middle class families and giving it to the rich.
But so far anyway, action on the Hill has been tepid. Today, for example, the House approved legislation "to bar federal transportation funds from being used to make improvements on lands seized via eminent domain for private development." That's nice, but inadequate. Let's hope Congress ends up passing something a lot stronger; a blanket prohibition on takings for economic development comes to mind.
Meanwhile, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, shows again why she's an intellectual nitwit:
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California says she is opposed to any legislation that would withhold federal dollars "for the enforcement of any decision of the Supreme Court, no matter how opposed I am to that decision."
Did you bother to read the Court's opinion, ma'am? There's no question here of congressional "enforcement." The Court held, erroneously, that the Federal Constitution presents no bar to takings for economic development by local governments. It did not hold that such takings are required, or that Congress must fund them. In fact, the Court made clear that citizens upset by property takings should seek redress from the political branches of government.
If she insists on prattling in public, shouldn't Ms. Pelosi know this?