FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Cattle Raisers applaud Gov. Perry's efforts to protect property rights

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 8, 2005—Gov. Rick Perry today expanded the call of the special legislative session to include legislation that limits government’s ability to take property from private owners through eminent domain.
      The U.S. Supreme Court recently set a new legal precedent that allows government entities to seize private property for economic development purposes.
      “We applaud Gov. Perry for taking a stand on this issue,” said Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Dick Sherron of Beaumont. “Property ownership is a basic American right that shouldn’t be trampled on by federal, state or local governments.”
      On June 23^rd, the Supreme Court held, in a 5-4 vote, that local governments could seize private property in order to promote economic development, thus expanding the power of eminent domain by broadening the definition of “public use.”
      Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor disagreed, saying in her dissenting opinion, “…nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.”  She recommended that landowners look to the states for protection.
      Sherron agreed and called for immediate action during the first-called special session of the 79^th Legislature. Legislation has already been filed by Rep. Franke Corte of San Antonio and Sen. Kyle Janek of Houston to prevent the taking of private property for economic development purposes or to benefit other private entities.
      Efforts are also underway to restore and strengthen the protection of private property rights on the federal level.  Texas Sen. John Cornyn has introduced legislation declaring that eminent domain should be reserved for true public usages. He also urges the states “to take action to voluntarily limit their own power of eminent domain.”
      TSCRA President Sherron encouraged landowners to contact their state legislators and tell them how important this issue is for agricultural stability now and in the next generation.
      Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 128-year-old trade organization whose 13,000-plus members manage approximately 5.4 million cattle on 70.3 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma.

TSCRA –25-2005