State and Local Reporter - 12/21/2006  (Plain Text Version)

Andrew Chaban, Chair
Lowell, Massachusetts

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In this issue:
Tucker Carlson Political Wrap-up, Katrina Clean Up Highlight Largest SLGA Conference on Record
Builders May Have Seen the Worst of Current Downturn
Florida HBA Wins Big at Mid-term Elections, Amendment 3 Passes Decisively
Democrats Win at the Polls: A Look Back at the 2006 Mid-term Elections at the Federal and State Leve
2006 Critical Ballot Measures Wrap-up
Home Builders Gearing Up for 2008
NAHB Addresses Affiliated Business Arrangements with Republican Attorney Generals
2007 State & Local Issues Fund Applications Now Available
Deadline to Submit an Application to the Legal Action Fund Approaching
Cities Still Struggle to Meet Local Housing Needs
Stable Revenues, But Declining Optimism
Dell for the Holidays: Double Discounts Through Dec. 31

2006 Critical Ballot Measures Wrap-up

Florida Amendment III – The State of Florida sought broader public support of constitutional amendments by increasing the threshold of passage from 50% plus 1 to 60%, thus preventing the Florida Constitution from being littered with costly and unnecessary amendments.  NAHB and the HBA of Florida were heavily involved in the Amendment III campaign, and ensured its passage. It gained approval by 57.9%.

Eminent Domain – Louisiana and 11 other states voted on eminent domain measures that limit government’s powers to force the sale of private party for another private party or economic development.  The restrictions are a direct result of the United States Supreme Court’s Kelo v. New London decision in late June of 2005 where the Court upheld eminent domain for economic development as a “public use,” but also allowed individual states to place further restrictions on its exercise of the takings power. 

Louisiana	Passed; 55%
Arizona	Passed; 65.3%
California	Passed; 48%
Florida	Passed; 69%
Georgia	Passed; 82.4%
Idaho	Failed; 26%
Michigan	Passed; 84.3%
Nevada	Passed; 63%
New Hampshire	Passed; 86%
North Dakota	Passed; 67.7%
Oregon	Passed; 67.1%
South Carolina	Passed; 84.3%

 

Regulatory Takings– 5 states considered measures that would require governmental bodies to compensate property owners for “regulatory takings.”  Initiatives relating to regulatory takings, allowing citizens whose property value is decreased by government regulation to file a claim for government compensation for the reduced value of their property, passed in only two states. 

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