For all the hubbub about the Supreme Court’s ruling in Kelo v. City of New London — that eminent domain could be applied to cases where “economic development” was the public use in question — the response of state legislatures has been swift. The decision did not prevent states from making their own laws regarding the scope of eminent domain, and public opposition to the ruling has been widespread and bipartisan. An article in USA Today detailed the states’ responses and had this to say:
In Washington, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said his office received more calls from constituents angry about this case than it did for the Supreme Court ruling that limited displays of the Ten Commandments on public property
…
“We don’t like anybody messing with our dogs, our guns, our hunting rights or trying to take property from us,” says [Alabama] state Sen. Jack Biddle, a sponsor of the law.
