Gov. Minner gone wild; vetoes eminent domain bill.
Question: The bill was approved in the house 38-0 and the Senate 18-1. Isn’t that a veto-proof vote? Again, I’m often a moron on some of these issues, but does the two-thirds-majority thingie only apply to Congress? Can’t this veto be overridden somehow?
I’ve got calls into both the Carney and Markell camps for a response to this. No one picked up at Carney’s. I left a message with a Markell staffer who said he’d be looking for a response and would get back to me ASAP.
Update: In less than an hour I got a response from the Markell camp. Press guru Joe Rogalsky reports that Markell would have instantly signed this legislation because “he believes in protecting Delaware homeowners and businessowners.” From a presser two weeks ago:
“The protection of private property from government seizure is one of the fundamental principles that our country was founded on,” Markell said. “Delawareans who have built homes and businesses should not have to live in fear that one day their local government will order them to sell their homes and businesses so the government can turn the land over to a private developer. Delaware will be better off when this bill becomes law.”
To be fair, I guess it would be a good idea to leave a message on Carney’s voicemail as much as I hate doing so.
Update II: I’m receiving word that this bill was vetoed at the behest of former State Rep. Joe DiPinto, who is now a big player in development circles. My source is pretty damn solid. Of course, it is better to be read than to be right, so I could be wrong. I’m a confident lad, though.
Update III: From Dana Garrett at Delaware Watch on a protest to be held at Legislative Hall on Monday:Buses will depart on Monday night from the Christiana Mall Park & ride at 4:00 PM and will return at 8:00 PM. People are asked to call Ed Osborne at 302.636.0450 if the are able to make a firm commitment to attend.
Posted by Mike Matthews in First State Filth