Ohio Bill to curb eminent domain OK'd

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

A bill preventing cities from seizing unblighted land for economic development through 2006 cleared the state legislature easily Wednesday, as lawmakers responded to public concern that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision could make the practice widespread.

The bill, which cleared both the House and Senate unanimously, will go into effect as soon as it is signed by Gov. Bob Taft.

Sponsored by State Sen. Tim Grendell, a Chester Township Republican, the legislation creates a 25-person task force to review Ohio's eminent domain laws in the wake of the high court's Kelo v. New London decision. In that June 2005 ruling, the court said economic development is a viable "public purpose" under eminent domain law, even when unblighted land is being seized for development that ultimately benefits a company.

Questioning eminent domain.