Governor vetoes eminent domain legislation

Gov. Bill Richardson has vetoed legislation that was intended to prevent state and local governments from using their eminent domain powers to take property for private development projects. Richardson said Tuesday a number of community officials _ from small rural towns to larger cities _ opposed the measure and he said the legislation would "bring New Mexicans more harm than good." The measure, sponsored by Rep. Richard Cheney, R-Farmington, would have prohibited the state or local governments from using eminent domain powers to take property and turn it over to a developer or other "private entity" within five years of the property's condemnation. The bill was in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that allowed a city in Connecticut to take homes for a private development project. Dozens of states are considering revisions to their eminent domain laws because of the unpopular ruling by the nation's highest court. In defending his veto, Richardson said, "I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting private property rights." He promised to create a task force to study the eminent domain issue and propose legislation "to appropriately protect private property from condemnation that is geared solely at private commercial development." Richardson said the bill's "ambiguous language may stop public projects that encourage environmental conservation, mass transportation and smart urban development, simply because private entities play a role in the project."....