Issue Position: Property Rights

Issue Position

More than 90 percent of the land in Texas is privately owned and Gov. Perry is committed to protecting Texans' rights as landowners. Gov. Perry worked to protect private property rights by responding quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court Kelo decision by prohibiting the use of eminent domain and the condemnation of private property for economic development purposes.

Working with the legislature, Gov. Perry helped pass the strongest property rights protection in the state's history through House Joint Resolution (HJR) 14. Gov. Perry campaigned for this measure, which voters enshrined in the Constitution by approving Proposition 11, so the legislature can't weaken it without the people giving their permission at the ballot box. When voters added Proposition 11 to the Constitution this November, they forever prevented the government from taking private property to give a developer or enhance tax revenues.

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