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It looks like the Washington legislature is going to take up eminent domain soon. According to editorial coverge in the P-I: A bill this legislative session should require general public notification (beyond Web-based meeting dockets) of condemnation decisions and direct notification of landowners by any government considering using eminent domain to acquire property. Openness is vital. That sounds like an unalloyed good to me. There’s also movement afoot to go...

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water… There’s rumors on the Internets, as they say, that property rights supporters are going to revive Washington’s Initiative 933 and California’s Proposition 90. And it hasn’t even been a week since the election! I mention this for two reasons. First, I’ve been dying for chance to write the phrase Whac-A-Mole—and this is really the perfect opportunity. Second,...

What’s the matter with Idaho? Nothing, really. As Eric mentioned, 5 of the 6 state ballot measures on “takings” failed, with 2 thrown out by the courts before the election, and 3 rejected at the polls. But Idaho represented the biggest defeat for the “takings” measures: Proposition 2 didn’t just fail, it was crushed, with a whopping 76 percent of voters lined up against it. From the Boise Weekly: The...

UPDATE 11/8/06 7:40 a.m. With essentially all precints reporting and roughly 60 percent of ballots counted, Washington’s I-933 is losing 58 (no) to 42 (yes). Most of the counties with large numbers of ballots still to count have so far leaned heavily toward “no.” With almost every precint reporting, Idaho’s Proposition 2 suffered a resounding rejection, 72 (no) to 28 (yes). Nearly all of California’s precints have reported and Proposition...

What could the guy next door do if I-933—or other western property initiatives—pass on November 7? Sightline has just launched a No on 933 issue ad that shows how these initiatives could pave the way for irresponsible development and an end to many commonsense protections. Watch the ad! Forward it! If you have an extra second, go to the YouTube version and rate it! Please comment below or send feedback...

** Late yesterday, the Montana supreme court unanimously upheld the lower court’s decision to invalidate Initiative 154 because of pervasive fraud. ** Speaking of fraud, one of Howard Rich’s key shell organizations, Chicago-based Americans for Limited Government, has been operating without a license to do business for almost 9 months. ALG has pumped well over a million in cash into the property ballot measures. It’s not clear yet what the legal ramifications...

On Monday night I was down in Vancouver, Washington participating in a panel debate on I-933. It was heated at times, like any old fashioned civic debate should be. But I was troubled to read the newspaper coverage the following morning. Here’s the bit that stuck in my craw: Zimmerman said farmers resorted to I-933 because they couldn’t get state government to take their concerns seriously. He saved most of his...

Fascinating article in the Boise Weekly. We’re so accustomed to conflict and outrage grabbing the headlines that it’s surprising to hear about the day to day cooperation between Idaho’s ranchers and conservationists—they’re working together to protect both wild wolves and livestock. If you need a breather from the over-heated election cycle, this one’s worth a read.

Sightline’s 2006 analysis documents a growing backlash against “property rights” initiatives by chronicling six stories of Oregon communities deeply affected by Oregon’s Measure 37. The report also examines the implications for Washington and other states considering similar initiatives this fall, including Idaho, Montana, Arizona, and California, which are all modeled after Measure 37.

Hot off the presses folks: “Property Wrongs,” a new report from Sightline, documents a growing backlash against Measure 37. It chronicles six Oregon communities deeply affected by Measure 37—ranging from a suburban community in Marion County outside Salem to owners of a small resort at Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument. The report also examines the implications for other states considering similar initiatives this fall. Washington’s I-933, Idaho’s Proposition 2, Montana’s...