U.S. House puts kibosh on eminent domain

[Dingfod]

Somewhat.

Originally Posted by AP

Conservative defenders of private property and liberal protectors of the poor joined in an overwhelming House vote to prevent local and state governments from seizing homes and businesses for use in economic development projects.

The House legislation, passed 376-38, was in response to a widely criticized 5-4 ruling by the Supreme Court last June that allowed eminent domain authority to be used to obtain land for tax revenue-generating commercial purposes.

Emphasis mine.

I can see the need for eminent domain in the case of public thoroughfares, public utilities, and the like. But who does a shopping mall primarily benefit? If cities, counties and even states can take land and hand it to private enterprise just because more tax revenues are generated, what is to stop them from taking your house and selling the property to McDonald's or Walmart. Certainly the sales tax revenues will more than replace the property taxes they get from your little shithole. What is the objection to a law limiting government's power of eminent domain?