Bob Barr on Private Property

Posted by Doug Craig at 6/24/2008 7:47 PM
Categories: Bob Barr


Bob Barr on Private Property

June 23, 2008 12:27 pm EST

Atlanta, GA -- Three years ago today the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Kelo v. City of New London, undercutting the Constitution’s protection against the unlawful taking of private property.  “In Kelo the Supreme Court held that government could take private property to give away to private developers so government could collect more tax revenue,” explains Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president.  “That allows governments across America to ignore the Fifth Amendment’s clear requirement that property be taken only for a ‘public use’,” Barr adds.

Many states responded to Kelo by restricting the use of eminent domain to conform to the Constitution’s language rather than to the Court’s interpretation.  But abuses still occur.  Thus, “the president should direct all federal departments and agencies to avoid the seizure of private property except as a last resort, and for a legitimate public purpose,” says Barr.  Congress should similarly restrict any federal grant money to states and localities.

“Even though the Supreme Court has improperly minimized the scope of the Fifth Amendment, every public official who takes an oath to the Constitution has a responsibility to respect the nation’s fundamental law,” notes Barr.  “The president and members of Congress should act only in accordance with the Constitution’s clear guarantee for the right to private property.”

Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, where he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. Prior to his congressional career, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and also served as an official with the CIA.

Since leaving Congress, Barr has been practicing law and has teamed up with groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the American Conservative Union to actively advocate every American citizens’ right to privacy and other civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Along with this, Bob is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom.

 

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