Editorial for January 26, 2006


Mind your business

When the Bush Supreme Court aborts Roe vs. Wade, many state legislatures may feel compelled to reinstate the right to have an abortion.

Similarly, in the wake of the high court’s peculiar ruling last summer that endorsed the concept of eminent domain — the right of the government to seize private property for, essentially, anything it darn well wants — state lawmakers, including Pennsylvania’s, should move quickly to curb the excesses of eminent domain.

Left unchecked, eminent domain opens the door to abuse of power — sticking it to the little guy, in the name of "progress." We’ve seen it in Atlantic City, where the mighty casinos have used eminent domain to gobble up not-no-mighty homeowners for development.

And, as seen in our cover story this week, the James J. Clearkin Building Construction firm in the Northeast got a raw deal, a very raw deal, thanks to eminent domain. The city seized the property to make way for a housing development, and now, Clearkin is doing its business in Cheltenham. Cheltenham, by the way, is in Montgomery County.

What’s wrong with this picture? Everything.

Philadelphia needs to retain and attract businesses. The last thing Philadelphia should be doing is encouraging businesses to get out of town. They have enough reasons already — high taxes and red tape top the list.

It shouldn’t be a matter of paying Clearkin, or any other business, enough to make it worth their while to leave. Established, reputable businesses like Clearkin should be off limits, no ifs, ands or buts. Don’t push them away.

So, it’s up to all 50 state legislatures to pass measures that would protect the good guys by restricting eminent domain to the seizure of vacant property. Even better, Congress should make that limitation a federal law. Otherwise, you could be the next victim. ••

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