(WASHINGTON TIMES) RICHMOND — The General Assembly on Monday signed off on a major priority of Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, approving a constitutional amendment stipulating that private property can only be taken for public use.
“It has been seven long years of effort, but with today’s vote our citizens are one step closer to enshrining in the Constitution of Virginia the protections they deserve from overzealous governments and the developers who use them to take away Virginians’ homes, farms, and small businesses,” Mr. Cuccinelli said. “A property rights amendment to Virginia’s Constitution is the ultimate protection Virginians need, and voters will finally have a property rights amendment to vote on in the November ballot.”
Nicole Riley, Virginia state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, worked with a coalition of property rights groups in support of the measure.