Yesterday, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment to the FY2006 Transportation, Treasury and Housing Spending Bill. The amendment, introduced by Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo.), would restrict the use of federal funds on private development projects that seek to use the power of eminent domain for economic development purposes. Senator Bond's amendment, adopted on a voice vote, also requires the Government Accountability Office to study the use of eminent domain. As Law.com reports, the full bill is expected to pass when it comes up for a vote next week.
Missouri, Senator Kit’s home State, has already commissioned a task force to study eminent domain. The task force’s report can be found here.