Small business owners and all property owners in Rep. Sailer's district should thank her for a key vote she made last session to enact significant restrictions to the eminent domain law. She voted for the original bill and the conference committee report on this critical issue. The bill that placed restrictions on the controversial power of eminent domain and provided significant protections for property owners was the top agenda item of the state's largest business group, the National Federation of Independent Business Minnesota.
The bill made many changes to protect small business owners and other property owners including: a prohibition on takings purely for economic development purposes, a mandatory attorney fee provision for eminent domain victims who receive 40 percent or more than the condemning authority's final offer and additional compensation for those who have their business destroyed due to a taking. The bill made many other changes to restrict this controversial power and to protect property owners and we thank Rep. Sailer for her support.
When Gov. Pawlenty signed the eminent domain restrictions into law, a major course correction occurred in this controversial area and we thank Rep. Sailer for supporting this critical legislation.
Mike Hickey
