Authorship:

A person’s home is their “castle.” Yet, we allow private property to be

unconstitutionally taken from our citizens. Eminent domain has become a term of dread in our

commonwealth. Because that’s exactly what it’s doing: bringing dread to our citizens. It is

time that this Congress fulfills our duty of protection of our citizens: and restore their feeling of

security in their property. So let’s understand why we pass.

First, let’s recognize misinterpretations of the Constitution. According to SGR Law,

after the Kelo case, households were allowed to be used for “public purpose.” But, after, it has

been found that the court decision allowed localities to make the definition of “public purpose”

much broader than our Founders intended it to be. According to Richard App-stin from the

National Review, the public use clause only looks at the purpose for which the property is taken -

but the Kelo case prompted many to reexamine the use of eminent domain, where it was found

that the government is continually using eminent domain to justify selling it to private

developers- not public use. This is exactly what this legislation addresses and that is why we

MUST pass it today.

Second, we pass because this legislation will stop abuse. Since the Kelo decision,

citizens living across the country especially in our Commonwealth have seen horrible practices

using eminent domain to justify it. The effects of Kelo have been horrendous. According to the

Washington Post- because of the national impact of public opinion from the case, it is much

easier politically to get local governments to rally support to ZONE OUT people they don’t want

in their communities or move people out of their homes to gerrymander. According to the

Institute for Justice, some states have gone as far as amending their state constitutions to be able
to prevent the eminent domain clause from being revoked for every case of “public use” because

it’s become such a problem. This is exactly what this legislation will be doing and this legislation

is necessary because no longer can we allow this abuse to happen in our commonwealth.

Senators, in the Declaration of Colonial Rights, the First Continental Congress explicitly

stated that “[Americans] are entitled to life, liberty, and property, and they have never ceded to

any sovereign power … a right to dispose of either without their consent.” Let’s uphold this

value today and affirm.

Affirmation (No Authorship):

A person’s home is their “castle.” Yet, we allow private property to be

unconstitutionally taken from our citizens. Eminent domain has become a term of dread in our

nation. Because that’s exactly what it’s doing: bringing dread to our citizens. It is time that

Congress fulfills our duty of protection of our citizens: and restore their feeling of security in

their property. So let’s understand why we pass.

First, let’s understand that this legislation will end the abuse of eminent domain.

Since the Kelo decision, citizens living across the country have seen horrible practices using

eminent domain to justify it. The effects of Kelo have been horrendous. First, according to the

Washington Post because of the national impact of public opinion from the case, it is much

easier politically to get local governments to rally support to ZONE OUT people they don’t want

in their communities or move people out of their homes to gerrymander. According to the

Institute for Justice, some states have gone as far as amending their state constitutions to be able

to prevent the eminent domain clause from being revoked for every case of “public use” land

because it’s become such a problem. This legislation is necessary because it domestically takes

care of the issue- allowing the benefits to be felt everywhere.

Second, let’s discuss the points of the negation.

Senators, In the Declaration of Colonial Rights, the First Continental Congress explicitly

stated that “[Americans] are entitled to life, liberty, and property, and they have never ceded to
any sovereign power … a right to dispose of either without their consent.” Let’s uphold this

value today. Pass today’s legislation.

Negation (No Authorship):

Eminent domain has become a term of dread in our nation. Using the words "eminent

domain" today is risky because the concept has been clouded with negative news and

connotations of property-owner abuse. The power of eminent domain rarely gets credit for the

positive things that have been accomplished. Without it, our urban areas would be places without

the great virtues of conformity and sensible land use. This legislation paints eminent domain as

abuse but it is the opposite. So let’s understand why we fail today’s legislation.

First, this legislation prevents further economic development. According to the SGR

Law Association, New London Connecticut had fallen into hard economic times, its tax base

and population were continually decreasing, and city leaders were desperate for some form of

economic development. So, the city activated the New London Development Corporation which

was a private entity under the control of the city government and what the city utilized to carry

out the eminent domain uses under the Kelo case. According to the Institute for Justice, although

the plan didn’t completely bring the proposed benefits- since the decision, using eminent domain

to give to private developers brings economic prosperity because it almost acts like a “public-

private partnership” and allows the oversight of the government and the innovation of the

private sector- this legislation would take this helpful aspect away. For example, the land

obtained in the Minute Maid Park baseball stadium has benefitted Houston by bringing millions

into downtown Houston every year helping their economy, this legislation would get rid of that.

Second, let’s discuss the points of the affirmation.

 ● Starting with Senator ______ who connotes that eminent domain harms people of

color, as well as minorities but that’s the complete opposite. According to the

New York Times, eminent domain has been a key tool in how cities can upgrade

deteriorating neighborhoods and assemble land for affordable housing.

● Senator _______, this study stands against what you argued as notes that doing

what today’s legislation proposes- removing private developer’s access to

eminent domain land, takes away from the benefits that minorities and the

poor could receive because it is often the private developers that have the most

success in land renewal.

Senators, eminent domain leads to projects that stimulate economic rebirth.

Congress should be passing legislation that helps and protects our citizens and this legislation is

the exact opposite of this duty. Fail today’s legislation.