Office of Delegate Armstrong: Senate Committee Kills Bill to Protect Landowners ~Armstrong vows to continue to fight for average citizens~

From the Office of Delegate Ward Armstrong

March 3, 2010

CONTACT: Claire Wilker
804-698-1210

After passing the House with a 98-1 vote, Delegate Ward Armstrong's "Landowner's Rights Bill" (HB652) was killed in a Senate Finance Committee on a 10-3 vote Wednesday morning. Senators Reynolds, Watkins, and Hanger were the only members voting in favor of the legislation.

HB652 would have provided that any restriction, change, or loss of access to or from property taken under the power of eminent domain to be considered as an element in assessing damages for the purposes of determining just compensation.

"I'm very disappointed that the committee chose to side with government instead of the average citizen," said Armstrong. "The worst thing that a government can do to someone is deprive them of their liberty; the second worst thing is to deprive them of their property without just compensation. I intend to introduce the measure again next year."

The bill was supported by a variety of groups including: The VA Farm Bureau, National Federation of Independent Businesses, The VA Agribusiness Council, and The Family Foundation.

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