Leaders split over power to seize land

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 3/12/9

A showdown could be brewing between Gov. Haley Barbour and the Mississippi Legislature over a plan to restrict eminent domain.

On Wednesday, the state House sent to Barbour a proposal that would severely limit the government’s authority to take private land for use by another private entity.

The governor has expressed strong opposition to the proposal, setting up a possible veto. The Legislature has yet to override any of Barbour’s vetos during his six years in office.

But only three members of the 122-member House voted against the eminent domain proposal Wednesday. It passed the Senate earlier with limited opposition.

While Barbour said he had not yet read the specifics of the legislation, he said the general concept would limit the state’s ability to lure major economic development projects like Nissan or Toyota.