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Chance: Ruling shows need to protect private property in Georgia

In light of last week’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that a local government can seize citizens’ property for a private development, state Sen. Ronnie Chance said the legislature needs to work to protect the rights of private property owners.

Ironically, Chance supported a bill that passed the Senate earlier this year which would have “eliminated the ability of governments to use eminent domain for private economic development,” Chance said. The bill didn’t make it out of the House by the end of the session, but Chance said the issue should be a priority for the legislature.

“Clearly, we will now have to revisit that legislation and use whatever wiggle room we have to protect the rights of private property owners,” Chance said.

Although the U.S. Constitution prohibits the seizure of private property by the government except for “public use,” such public use has traditionally been for projects such as hospitals, highways and public schools, Chance said.

“Our founding fathers provided the citizens of the United States this protection and relegated the exercise of eminent domain to instances that were absolutely necessary,” Chance said. “It is my steadfast belief that the dominion over my private property should fall solely on my shoulders.”

Chance noted that the 5-4 decision of the court “allows governments to exercise eminent domain when deemed beneficial, not necessary, to the greater public good.”

“The only redeeming quality of this decision is that it provides state and local governments the ability to rein in such behavior and protect private property rights,” Chance said.