Bank Takes Lead in Fighting Emminent Domain Abuse

Today, BB&T - the nation's ninth largest financial holdings company - announced that it “will not lend to commercial developers that plan to build condominiums, shopping malls and other private projects on land taken from private citizens by government entities using eminent domain.”

Please take a moment to read about BB&T's courageous stand against eminent domain abuse.

Best,

Christina Walsh
Assistant Castle Coalition Coordinator Institute for Justice
Institute for Justice
901 N. Glebe Road
Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 682-9320 FAX (703) 682-9321
Home Page: WWW.IJ.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: John E. Kramer or Lisa Knepper (703)682-9320

January 25, 2006

BB&T Respects Property Rights, Won’t Fund Eminent Domain Abuse

Arlington, Va.-BB&T, the nation’s ninth largest financial holdings company with $109.2 billion in assets, announced today that it “will not lend to commercial developers that plan to build condominiums, shopping malls and other private projects on land taken from private citizens by government entities using eminent domain.”

In a press release issued today by the bank, BB&T Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Allison, said, “The idea that a citizen’s property can be taken by the government solely for private use is extremely misguided, in fact it’s just plain wrong. One of the most basic rights of every citizen is to keep what they own. As an institution dedicated to helping our clients achieve economic success and financial security, we won’t help any entity or company that would undermine that mission and threaten the hard-earned American dream of property ownership.”

“BB&T’s principled stand sets an example that should inspire other lenders and should become the new industry standard,” said Institute for Justice President and General Counsel Chip Mellor. The Institute for Justice litigated the Kelo case, in which the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the taking of private property for someone else’s private use in the guise of “economic development.” Mellor said, “You can and should accomplish economic development through private negotiation, not the use of government force through eminent domain. As far as we’re concerned, BB&T now stands for Best Bank in Town.”

The U.S. Congress is now considering bipartisan legislation that would federally de-fund eminent domain for private use. Although the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation that would block any federal funds going to private development projects on land taken through eminent domain, the Senate has yet to vote on companion legislation. Last week, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), however, commented on an eminent domain case that was argued before the Ohio Supreme Court. The case involves Carl and Joy Gamble, homeowners from Norwood, Ohio, who could lose their home through eminent domain for a privately owned mall and high-end apartments.

Frist wrote in an op-ed published by the Cincinnati Enquirer, “I have some pretty clear thoughts about the [Norwood] case: The Gambles should keep their home and the developer should either build around it or cancel the development plans altogether. . . . Quite simply, no family should ever risk losing its home because a government wants to help a private developer.”

Scott Bullock, an IJ senior attorney who argued the Kelo case, said, “Eminent domain abuse is wrong and unconstitutional. BB&T has stepped up and recognized its corporate responsibility to not be a part of this shameful abuse of individual rights.”

Dana Berliner, an IJ senior attorney who argued the Gambles’ case before the Ohio Supreme Court, said, “Throughout the country, banks have been silent partners in the unholy alliance between local governments and private developers. Banks finance developers and cities that use eminent domain to take someone’s home or business and turn the land into new stores, condos, and office space. Others will hopefully follow BB&T’s courageous example.”

Raise minimum wage, shorten employment ladder

Raise minimum wage, shorten employment ladder

(Bowling Green, Kentucky) – Like they do nearly every year, Kentucky lawmakers are considering raising the minimum wage during the current session of the General Assembly.

Supporters claim that such increases benefit low-wage workers – a popular misconception that fails to acknowledge the unintended consequences and complicated issues involved. If all workers would benefit – and there are no damaging effects – by simply changing the law, then the General Assembly should just raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour.

Unfortunately, increasing the minimum wage would have a negative impact on Kentucky’s economy.
Higher minimum wages mean employers will have to pay more for low-skilled labor. To compensate, they usually react by hiring fewer workers.

According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), only 1 percent of workers over the age of 25 actually work for minimum wage, so the cuts in hiring will fall predominantly on Kentucky’s young people. An analysis in the Southern Economic Journal estimates that every 10-percent increase in the minimum wage will decrease teenage employment by 5.7 percent.

While increasing the minimum wage may well benefit a few low-wage workers, many more people will see their jobs disappear or be denied the opportunity to get a job at all.

“I wish we could make the lives of Kentucky’s low-wage workers better just by passing this law,” said Aaron Morris, fiscal policy analyst for the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky’s free-market think tank. “It’s not that easy. This intended increase will cut the bottom rung off the employment ladder for thousands of young people in Kentucky trying to work their way through school or gain valuable experience in the workforce.”

Kentucky should maintain its minimum wage at the federal level, and resist the temptation to enact policies which appear to help the working poor, but in practice do the exact opposite.


– For interview information, contact Jim Waters, Director of Policy and Communications for the Bluegrass Institute. He can be reached at (270) 782-2140 or jwaters@bipps.org.

A new beginning, Our time is NOW

Mohican State Park in Ashland County, Ohio will be the setting for the 2006 Libertarian Party of Ohio state convention on May 5 - 7.

Located 20 miles southeast of Mansfield, Ohio, the beautiful setting and rural location is intended to be attractive to families and more regions. It will be a chance to relax, recharge those batteries, and get with the theme of the convention: "A new beginning, Our time is NOW".

Friday night will include a outside patio cookout for LPO members, their families, and guests. Pricing is being worked on for that event and will be firm by March 1.

For now, there is an EARLY-bird weekend price for LPO members only. It will cover all day Saturday thru Sunday 11am. Get your $130 into Robert Butler by March 1 for that special weekend rate.

The sleeping rooms are beautiful, have a balcony or deck, and also a refrigerator. Those are booked seperately and a special $105 evening rate will be available after February 1 and they must be booked by April 1.

Yes, we will have fun on the weekend of May 5 - 7: Families, friends, interaction, meetings, a very special keynote speaker for the Saturday evening dinner and soon to be anounced.
Take time to go hiking, canoeing, boating, or join in on a Saturday afternoon brunch and tour of Malabar Farms. There will be something for everyone.

For more details, contact Robert Butler of the LPO office. 800/ 669-6542

For room bookings, contact Mohican Lodge at 419/ 938-5411 after February 1 and before April 1.

Kevin Knedler
LPO 2006 Convention Chair

Indiana’s Friendly Business Climate vs. Eminent Domain Abuses

Recently Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels gave his State of the State speech. This is a part of Dan Drexler's, the Libertarian Party of Indiana's Executive Director, responce.

LPIN Questions Daniels’ Definition of a “Growth-friendly” Indiana

Governor’s appointees at the helm of Marion County eminent domain abuse;
LPIN recommends pulling appointments.

In Governor Daniels’ own words, he states, “It cannot be said too often. Governments do not “run” economies. They do not create jobs or wealth. At their worst, they destroy jobs, or drive them to other, friendlier locations.”

Well, Governor Daniels, welcome to the “worst.”

On December 30th of last year, the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority took the first legal step in seizing the property of anIndianapolis company to make room for a VIP parking lot for the Indiana Stadium now under construction. This action took place at the last possible moment and while negotiations were underway with officials of the company, N.K. Hurst.

What stands out as most impressive on the heels of the governor’s State of the State address in which those remarks were made, is that he makes five of the seven appointments to this board. Leading the charge are long-time Republican activists David Frick and formerLt. Governor John Mutz.The governor continued, “At their best, they establish an environment inwhich free men and women, pursuing their dreams and best ideas, createwealth for each other.” N.K. Hurst has been creating wealth for others in Indianapolis since 1938. The owners are quick and proud to point out they have run their business without government assistance or handouts. In fact, while other businesses fled the downtown area, Hurst refused. The company employs over 50 employees. Now, the company faces eviction from their own property at the hands of the governor’s appointees.

“I laughed out loud when the governor commented on the government driving businesses to friendlier locations,” remarked Dan Drexler, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana. “I looked for the Hurstfamily up in the balcony to see if the governor would single them out as an example of a prosperous business chased away by government, but that call-out didn’t happen amazingly.”

“If the governor wants to stand behind his words, he’ll replace his own appointments to the Building Authority and replace them with truly ‘growth-friendly’ board members,” Drexler continued. “We have long been the only political party championing small business and property issues. Maybe he should look to our bench of civic leaders for those appointments.If he can’t corral his republicans to be ‘growth-friendly,’ I’m certain a handful of libertarian appointments to the Authority would create the environment he claims to exist.”

Contacts: Dan Drexler, LPIN executive director, 317-920-1994 or lpinhq@lpin.org

Rally to Stop Emminent Domain Abuse

Just a reminder to attend our rally in support of the Norwood homeowners at the Statehouse on Wednesday before IJ attorneys argue their case before the Ohio Supreme Court. This is the first state supreme court case to be heard on the constitutionality of condemnations for private development since the Kelo decision, so come be a part of history and stand up for property owners across the Buckeye State!

RALLY
Wednesday, January 11, 2006 8:00 a.m. West plaza of the Statehouse, by the large McKinley monument Columbus, Ohio

NORWOOD ORAL ARGUMENT
Seated by 9:00 a.m. Supreme Court of Ohio 65 South Front Street Columbus, Ohio

DE-BRIEF BY IJ ATTORNEYS
Following oral argument Hyatt on Capitol Square, Judicial Room 75 East State Street Columbus, Ohio
Snacks will be served

Remember that we will have buses picking folks up in Cleveland and Cincinnati. PLEASE RSVP TO RESERVE A SEAT. Both buses will depart from Columbus at 2:00 p.m. Here are the pick-up locations and pick-up times:

Cincinnati area: 3935 Edwards Road, Norwood, OH 45219. Pick-up at 5:30 a.m.
Cleveland area: 18615 Detroit Avenue Extension, Lakewood, OH 44107. Pick-up at 5:00 a.m.

For those of you unable to make it to Columbus, the oral argument will be streamed live on this website.

If you have any questions, please email or call me at 703-682-9320.

See you in Columbus!

Christina Walsh
Assistant Castle Coalition Coordinator
Institute for Justice
(703) 682-9320
www.ij.org
www.castlecoalition.org

E-Check is Dead

E-Check is dead in Southwest Ohio. It will die in two years in the northeast part of the state. Until then, politicians will argue about what needs to be done to make the air we breathe cleaner. Over the years, the overall trend for people in the Tri-state has been to move out of the city and into the suburbs, which results in longer commutes. As well, more people have cars (most teen drivers now have their own car, rather than having to borrow their parents' car),

Here are some simple Libertarian, market-based solutions to try.

• Lower municipal taxes for people and businesses. Currently Cincinnati, Norwood, and St Bernard residents must pay a 2.1% earnings tax. In surrounding cities like Blue Ash, Montgomery, and Greenhills, it is 1%-1.5%. In other places like Anderson, Colerain, and West Chester, there is no earnings tax. This forces people to move out of the city. It also encourages small businesses to move out of the city (business owners and managers have to pay the tax too).
• Reduce property taxes. This will not only encourage people to buy a house in the city, but it also encourages busiensses to stay in the city.
• Reduce burdonsome building codes that Cincinnati homeowners and developers face. This make it possible for somebody to refurbish an old house and make it a desirable place for somebody to live. Have you wondered why Northern Kentucky's riverfront has seen development and not Cincinnati's? Fewer rules and regulations make it easier to build nice looking buildings.

Cars are one of the biggest polluters to the air. No matter what laws are passed, people will still drive. If we can make an environment where people will WANT to live in the city, and businesses will WANT to locate to the city, that means more people will live closer to work and to stores. This in turn means shorter commutes, and even more people walking to go where they want to go. Of course this will mean fewer cars on the road, less traffic, and cleaner air.