More On H.R. 4772 - Private Property Rights Implementation Act Of 2006

The US House of Representatives voted on September 29 and passed the onerous Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 that a NYTimes editorial said will negate local zoning laws in favor of big developers by allowing developers to go directly to the Federal Court system when they are displeased with the zoning laws where they want to build. The vote in the House was 231 to 181. Our own Congressman Dent voted FOR it.

On October 2, the Washington Post published an in-depth look at how this "bait-and-switch" bill originated and what it really means. On the surface, it sounds like a good way to deal with eminent domain problems ""They bait you with eminent domain, but you end up voting to destroy all land-use regulation," said Elaine Clegg, a nonpartisan member of the city council in Boise, Idaho." (Washington Post 10/2/06)

A joint letter written by the National League of Cities, the United States Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, the Council of State Governments, the International City Management Association, and the National Conference of State Legislatures was sent to the House Judiciary Subcommittee On The Constitution in June, urging the committee to reject the bill.

The committee did not reject the bill. It got to the House where it was passed. It is now in the Senate. Luckily the Senate is not in session until November 9 (after the elections). There is time to write to Senators Specter and (incumbent) Santorum as well as to Senate candidate Bob Casey. Tell them what you think of this bait-and-switch bill, H.R. 4772. Ask them how they will vote when it comes before the Senate.

While you are at it, if you haven’t already written to (incumbent) Congressman Dent, write now and let him know what you think of his vote on H. R. 4772. Write to challenger Dertinger, too. Find out how each candidate feels about this most important issue. And, don't forget to vote on November 7th!

Unmask the Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 and show it for what it really is, a sham - a vehicle for large land owning developers to get the dwelling unit density they want in our town by taking away our right to control our zoning.