Today, the Protect Our Homes Coalition will announce that they are turning in over a million signatures in County Registrar offices all around the state, virtually assuring that this important measure to protect Californians from eminent domain abuse will appear on the November ballot.
Assemblywoman Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel – pictured to the right)) is serving as the Honorary Chairman of the Coalition, and she will be announcing the big news formally later today.
“The Protect Our Homes Initiative will restore the rights of homeowners and small businesses that were gutted by the Supreme Court’s outrageous decision in the Kelo case. This initiative will protect the average family from having their property taken by government only to be turned over to another private entity that is more influential,” said Walters.
“It is time to end the faction between local governments and special interests that sacrifice the property rights of the average citizen in order to line the coffers of government and the pockets of the powerful. This initiative will return eminent domain to its original purpose – to be used for true public uses such as building roads, schools, firehouses and other infrastructure needs that serve the public and not the financial interests of the politicians and the powerful,” she went on to say.
Walters also has a lot of praise for State Senator Tom McClintock who has been a strong leader in this coalition effort, and who has been featuring in a lot of the materials used in gathering the million+ signatures.
The question in the coming days will be who embraces this measure — with all eyes being first and foremost on Governor Schwarzenegger. This should be a no-brainer for him, as he is in need of some messaging to conservative voters. While this measure will appear to a broad cross-section of California’s electorate, conservatives have been particularly upset at the "Kelo" decision made by the Supreme Court last year…
Kudos to Walters, McClintock and all of those behind the massive effort to get this measure on the November ballot! And, of course, h/t to FR friend Kevin Spillane for the scoop!