29 Mar The “Terrible Twelve” Enemies of Property Rights

The League of Private Property Voters (LPPV) has released its list of the twelve members of the U.S. Congress deemed the greatest enemies of American property rights, based on their voting records over the past year.

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) Rep. Sherwood Boehlet (R-NY)

Rep. David Bonior (D-MI) Rep. George Brown (D-CA)

Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA) Rep. Elizabeth Furse (D-OR)

Rep. Sam Gejdenson (D-CT) Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D–NY)

Rep. David Obey (D-WI) Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT)

Rep. Mike Ward (D-KY) Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN)

These twelve were picked, not only because they voted against such issues as compensating property owners if their land was taken by government – but these twelve actually led the charge against important property rights protection measures like reforming the Endangered Species Act and supported shutting down public lands from public use.

For example, George Brown actually sponsored a bill that would have limited timber harvest equipment to horse drawn carts and ropes. Vic Fazio sponsored legislation to shut down the East Mojave desert in California from recreation and mining. His amendment would also have cut off private property owners from their land by limiting access through public lands. Maurice Hinchly sponsored a bill to lock up nearly 6 million acres in Utah by creating a wilderness area that will devastate the area’s economy.

These twelve don’t represent their constituents, but the powerful green special interests who want to take your land. On election day these twelve should be tarred, feathered and locked in the village stocks where they would have to stay until every single victim of the green land grab had a chance to tell them their own personal tale of horror. Then they would think twice before voting to take someone’s land or livelihood in exchange for a green campaign contribution.