Montanans vote on property rights
In November Montana residents will vote on a law that could require state and local governments to compensate property owners if new regulations lower the value of their property. Initiative 154 would also prevent local governments from using the state’s eminent domain laws to seize property and turn it over to private developers, a practice that was upheld by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Critics of the initiative, which is modeled after a similar ballot proposal in Oregon, say its supporters are using public anger towards the Supreme Court decision to push a law that will weaken land-use planning across the state, but I-154 supporters say governments are abusing their regulatory powers.
http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2006/06/20/breakingnews/10initiative.txt
