Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Agricultural News and Information

Greg Gibson, Coordinator
Public Relations / Multimedia
1-800-227-8244 ext. 4154
or 601-977-4154
email: ggibson@msfb.org

2.24.09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Farm Bureau applauds House for override of Governor’s veto

JACKSON – By a margin of 101-19, the Mississippi House of Representatives today successfully overrode Governor Haley Barbour’s veto of the eminent domain bill that had been sent to him to sign into law. The Mississippi Farm Bureau applauds the House for taking such a definitive action.

“Protecting private property rights is a priority of the Mississippi Farm Bureau,” said Farm Bureau President David Waide. “The 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Kelo vs. New London case made it legal for governments to take land from private landowners for the sole purpose of economic development – things like shopping malls. This law will stop that here in Mississippi.”

House Bill 803 placed restrictions on eminent domain proceedings by not allowing the taking of private property for economic development purposes. It originally passed in the House with a vote of 119-3.

The Senate will take up the issue on Thursday.

“Governor Barbour vetoed this bill against the wishes of most Mississippians. Our legislators should be commended the action they took today,” said Waide.

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The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general farm organization with more than 209,000 member-families statewide.  There are Farm Bureaus in all 82 counties in Mississippi where agriculture comprises a fundamental part of Mississippi 's economy.  Headquartered in Jackson , the federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of the government.  For more information about Farm Bureau, visit our website at www.msfb.com.