PROPERTY RIGHTS BILL MOVES FORWARD

WASHINGTON -- An agriculture subcommittee for the U.S. House passed a measure preventing what Rep. Bill Emerson says is unjust governmental "taking" of private land.

The Private Property Protection Act is needed, says Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, to protect farmers and other private property owners in government land-use decisions, particularly regarding wetlands.

The act passed the House Agriculture Department of Operations and Nutrition Subcommittee on a voice vote. The measure now goes to the full agriculture committee for approval.

"Farmers and ranchers must feel secure in the ability to retain the fruits of their labors, or else there is little incentive to save and expand their agricultural operations," Emerson said in a statement.

"In order to preserve these long-held liberties, I strongly support this private property rights act and other measures which will protect property owners from unjust government `takings.' Property owners have a fundamental and natural right to use and develop their property and to gain economic benefit from it."