Comments about ‘Utah Legislature: Senate approves eminent domain bills’

The state of South Carolina tried this about 140 years ago in the Charleston Harbor over a little island at the mouth of the bay the state wanted for its own. In case you forgot, this little disagreement over whose land it was ended rather poorly with a much broader disagreement between the southern states and the federal government. It started with what seemed to be a harmless salvo - a warning shot - but ended at a cost no one ever imagined.

Now I don't think for a moment there is going to be a call to arms anytime soon, but law firms from the beehive state to the belt line are sharpening their pencils, pricing out new cars, having dreams of countless billable hours over this little spat.

Utah seems determined to create a full employment program for under paid lawyers. The good news, the market for premium homes in the valley is surely to see a spike in activity.

While the rest of the world, including oil rich countries, are investing heavily to get their states independent of commodities based economies, Utah is betting the farm on mining for its future. Utah, the new West Virginia.

Haven't read the bill but if it has any eminent domain entitlements about Utah, you can be sure it includes private property, homes, and lands. Utah and the news media are careful about revealing all the details and report only what will not affect individuals.

I don't think Utah will have a chance at the federal level but homeowners better be ready. Development has priority over individual rights of land owners. Are those living near refineries or federal land at risk to this new law and loose everything to eminent domain laws? This is not a law to take lightly as it can be devastating to all.

A change in state eminent domain laws could include to give UTA or any state funded or development program rights to steal property from owners. These legislators don't tend to forget to exclude private property and by omission of application of the law will make it apply to the entire state and private land.

It's amazing how the Legislature postures when it is in session. When Obama offered the State $62,000,000. to help extend unemployment payments for Utahns out of work the State took the high road declaring that they didn't want to set a prescedent, like paying their citizens too much for they may get used to it. Also in passing the $1.00 gas tax our Govenor said he was against raising taxes, but on smokers it ok. Because the money will go to help children keep from smoking. What a bunch of self serving LIARS. They received over $200,000,000. from the tobacco settelement and they did not spend one dime on the issue of smoking! They put the money in the general treasury. I hate to say it but we, here in Utah, have some of the most double speaking , two faced hyprocrites that ever have served in any legislature. Their fight against the Federal government is all grandstanding to cover up their mismanagement of our state.

joe scovel | 1:03 p.m. Without expressing my opinion as to why, Utah culture teaches being two faced. Look at the moral issue. Federal lands belongs to all Americans. You own part of Yosemite, Point Reyes and Death Valley in California. Utahns believe they have the right to steal from the American public?