State Cracking Down On Eminent Domain: CBS-TV2 (Chicago IL), 4/19/06

[Illinois] lawmakers are moving forward with even stronger limitations on local governments' ability to take private property for economic development.

The House voted 85-to-six today for the measure brokered by lawmakers and municipal officials.

It's in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that expanded governments' eminent domain powers.

The newest version would make governments meet a stronger burden of proof for why private property should be taken.

In cases where that burden is met, the measure would give those private owners more money for giving up their property.

The measure now heads back to the Senate, which approved a different version last month.

But supporters of the House plan say it is more acceptable to municipal officials who feared the Senate version would hurt redevelopment of blighted areas.

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CBS-TV2: http://cbs2chicago.com