Bush Weighs In on Eminent Domain Issue

President Bush ordered that federal agencies cannot seize private property except for public projects such as hospitals or roads. The move occurred on the one-year anniversary of a controversial Supreme Court decision on the use of eminent domain.

The majority opinion in the case involving New London, Conn., homeowners said local governments could take private property for purely economic development-related projects because the motive was to bring more jobs and tax revenue to a city. Many states have since acted to prohibit such takings.