Nebraska Eminent Domain Used for the Acquisition of the Keystone Pipeline

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The concept of eminent domain is the condemnation of property for the public’s well being or good for private use is not the original intention and should not be used in this way. Private corporations and individuals are using the initial purpose was for the acquisition of land for the building of railroads and highways. The use of eminent domain has changed over the years by law, government and legal interpretations. These changes have allowed private interest groups to petition the state and local governments for eminent domain to be declared on property where the owners refuse to sell. Each states position on eminent domain is decided by the legislature and the voters of the state for use by private corporations and individuals. The claim by the corporations and individuals is that there projects is for the good of the public which plays of the condemnation of property and roads of being for the public’s well being. The use of eminent domain for the acquisition of land to build the Keystone Pipeline does not fall within the confines of for the public’s well being.
The Nebraska State Legislature is a one vote house which is unique for the US. This does not allow for the checks that are in other states. Thus, the legislature is more easily influenced in the decisions made in support of eminent domain for the building of the Keystone Pipeline. Lobbyists spent or contribute over $27.4 million with TransCanada being the top for 2011 to 2012. There is a belief that TransCanada is corrupting the state legislature. The lobbyist for TransCanada is Paul Elliot who was the deputy campaign director for Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.
TransCanada has an existing pipeline through Nebraska that connects through Steel City, ...

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... and the federal government must give the states the power to implement these changes.

Works Cited

http://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/1969/434-pa-244-0.html http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=77fbf36d-587c-419e-ae52-655138fb69b1 http://nebraskalegislature.gov/about/history_unicameral.php http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Energy-and-Climate/Renewable-Energy.aspx http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/03/keystone-pipeline-lobbying-state-department_n_991867.html http://watchdog.org/86989/lobbyists-spend-millions-to-influence-nebraska-lawmakers/ http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/02/19/nebraska-judge-law-allowing-keystone-xl-unconstitutional http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/us/transcanada-in-eminent-domain-fight-over-pipeline.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 http://www.condemnation-law.com/state-information/general/nebraska-eminent-domain

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