Conservatives Outraged at Abiding Eminent Domain Abuse

In New London, CT, a man’s home is the city’s castle

ALEXANDRIA, VA— The American Conservative Union, the nation's oldest and largest grassroots conservative lobbying organization, today expressed outrage at the inconceivable decision by the city council of New London, Connecticut, to evict and impose back fees and rent on homeowners Susette Kelo and the Cristofaro family.

One year ago, in Kelo v. New London, the Supreme Court ruled that under the power of eminent domain, the government can seize the homes of law-abiding citizens if it believes other tenants—namely, wealthy developers—can generate more tax revenue. Yet despite the backlash the case prompted—scores of states have created legislation restricting the use of eminent domain; the House overwhelmingly passed the Private Property Rights Protection Act; even Ralph Nader condemned the decision—the city council continues to defy both common sense and common decency.

“Property rights form the heart of liberty,” said David A. Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union. “For without such protection, the line between what belongs to you, what belongs to your neighbor and what belongs to the government blurs hopelessly, usually according to the whims of the latter.”

“Susette Kelo and the Cristofaros are the heroic victims of seven people in the so-called Constitution State who think the framers were kidding when they wrote a constitution to limit government power, rather than a blank check giving government the power to appropriate just about anything it wants. The result: in New London, Connecticut, a man’s home is no longer his castle. A man’s home is the city’s castle.”

In February, Susette Kelo received the 2006 Ronald Reagan Award from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a project of the American Conservative Union Foundation. Her acceptance speech is available at http://www.conservative.org/pressroom/2006/speech_kelo.asp.