ologist worldwide states that the life of the new individual human being begins at fertili0955 Legals zation.� The Bible tells us that God created humans “in his own image,� thereby making human life sacred. Finally, the Constitution and the Declaration both ensure the fundamental right to life to all persons, without which all other rights are meaningless.
as an implanted egg. If a fertilized egg in a petri dish were to be defined as a person by 0955 Legals passage of the Personhood Amendment, it is very likely that IVF would no longer be an option in Mississippi – especially for couples at risk for having a baby with a life-threatening genetic defect who now can choose IVF and have a healthy baby.
However, current Mississippi law does not protect an unborn child from being destroyed by his or her mother’s choice or as part of a scientific experiment, because the unborn child is not legally classified as a “person.� In Roe v. Wade the Supreme Court noted that if the “personhood (of the preborn) is established, the (abortion rights) case . . . collapses, for the fetus’ right to life is then guaranteed specifically� in the Constitution. But, for the thirty eight years since Roe, the legal rights of personhood have been denied both to babies formed inside the womb and to those outside the womb by way of “cloning� and embryonic stem cell experimentation.
Not only would Mississippi couples who just want a baby be denied the option of IVF, certain forms of birth control – like IUDs – would be suddenly illegal, and miscarriages could become suspect.
By voting “Yes on 26� we can amend our State Constitution and be the first in the nation to protect every human being from the very beginning of life, whether that life begins by natural or artificial means. By recognizing the personhood of our tiniest brothers and sisters, we will ensure that the preborn receive equal protection under the law regardless of their size, location, developmental stage or method of reproduction. Argument against the Petition: Lynn Evans, public health advocate Sometimes an idea that seems promising has disastrous consequences. This is true for the Personhood Amendment.
In the 33 years since the first in vitro baby, hundreds of Mississippi couples who just wanted a baby of their own have thanked medical science for in vitro fertilization [IVF]. The treatment requires “harvesting� the mother’s eggs, fertilizing the eggs outside the womb, and implanting the best one or two zygotes back into the womb. There, with luck, they will develop into healthy babies.
Since more than two eggs are harvested for IVF but only the best two candidates are usually implanted, what happens to the other fertilized eggs if they are defined as people? Can they be frozen, as is usually done? If frozen fertilized embryos are people, can they inherit property?
Medicine defines a pregnancy as an implanted egg. If a fertilized egg in a petri dish were to be defined as a person by passage of the Personhood Amendment, it is very likely that IVF would no longer be an option in Mississippi – especially for couples at risk for having a baby with a life-threatening genetic defect who now can choose IVF and have a healthy baby.
Not only would Mississippi couples who just want a baby be denied the option of IVF, certain forms of birth control – like IUDs – would be suddenly illegal, and miscarriages could become suspect.
identification, but is unable to present that identification when voting, shall file an affiLegals 0955ballot, davit and the elector, within five days after the election, shall present the government issued photo identification to the appropriate circuit clerk. (3) This provision shall not be construed to require photo identification to register to vote. This provision only requires government issued photo identification for casting a ballot. (4) The Legislature shall enact legislation to implement the provisions of this section of the constitution.
The proponents of this initiative do not buy into the argument forwarded by the opponents, which is that this would drive down turnout among Mississippi voters. What it would accomplish, however, is to guarantee that every vote cast is done so legally. Please join the thousands of Mississippians in voting “Yes� for Voter ID and in BALLOT TITLE: doing so, helping us clean up Should the Mississippi Consti- Mississippi’s election system. tution be amended to require a person to submit govern- Argument against the ment issued photo identifica- Petition: Sue Harmon, moveon.org tion in order to vote?
Effective treatment of severe preeclampsia, molar gestation, and early ectopic pregnancies would be jeopardized by passage of the Personhood Amendment, threatening women’s lives. New stem cell treatments for patients with Parkinson’s disease, Lou Ge- BALLOT SUMMARY: hrig’s disease, and cancers like leukemia and choriocarci- Initiative #27 would amend the Mississippi Constinoma are also at risk. tution to require voters to If it were your friend or fam- submit a government issued ily member who needed the photo identification before best treatment available, being allowed to vote; provides that any voter lacking would you deny it to them? government issued photo Vote NO on the Personhood identification may obtain photo identification without Amendment. charge from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety; Voter Identification and exempts certain residents Initiative #27 of state-licensed care facilities and religious objectors from being required to show photo ORIGINAL FILING: identification in order to vote. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2), A qualified Argument for the Petielector who votes in a pri- tion: Joey Fillingane, mary or general election, ei- Initiative Sponsor ther in person at the polls or in person in the office of the Why should you vote “Yes� circuit clerk, shall present a for Voter Identification? government issued photo identification before being al- Because the right to vote is lowed to vote. too important to allow dis(b) A qualified elector who honest people to steal elecdoes not have a government tions by voting in the name of issued photo identification other people; often times in and who cannot afford such the name of dead people or identification may obtain a folks who are out of state on state issued photo identifica- Election Day. The integrity of tion free of charge from the our entire election system is Mississippi Department of at stake. For too many years, Public Safety. The elector as nearly every other state in must show appropriate iden- the nation has strengthen the tifying documents required by protections of their election the Mississippi Department of procedures, Mississippi once Public Safety as provided by again trails behind as one of only a handful of states that law. (2) (a) An elector living and does not require any form of voting in a state-licensed care photo identification before facility shall not be required casting a ballot on election to show a government issued day. photo identification before being allowed to vote. In a culture when you are re(b) An elector who has a quired to show photo ID to religious objection to being fly out of an airport, cash a photographed will be allowed check or even rent a movie to cast an affidavit ballot, and from a video store, surely it the elector, within five days make sense to ask citizens to after the election, shall exe- s h o w a form of cute an affidavit in the appro- government-issued photo ID priate circuit clerk’s office af- before they vote. firming that the exemption applies. Voter ID will not cure all (c) An elector who has a problems with the elections government issued photo in Mississippi but it will go a identification, but is unable to very long way to ensuring present that identification that dead people do not vote when voting, shall file an affi- - as has happened in Missisdavit ballot, and the elector, sippi within the past few elecwithin five days after the elec- tion cycles - and it will ensure tion, shall present the govern- that people only get one vote ment issued photo identifica- per election. This makes ultition to the appropriate circuit mate sense to people of all clerk. political backgrounds. (3) This provision shall not be construed to require photo The proponents of this initiaidentification to register to tive do not buy into the arguvote. This provision only re- ment forwarded by the oppoquires government issued nents, which is that this photo identification for cast- would drive down turnout ing a ballot. among Mississippi voters. (4) The Legislature shall enact What it would accomplish, legislation to implement the however, is to guarantee that provisions of this section of every vote cast is done so legally. Please join the thouthe constitution. sands of Mississippians in voting “Yes� for Voter ID and in BALLOT TITLE: doing so, helping us clean up Should the Mississippi Consti- Mississippi’s election system. tution be amended to require a person to submit govern- Argument against the ment issued photo identifica- Petition: Sue Harmon, moveon.org tion in order to vote?
Effective treatment of severe preeclampsia, molar gestation, and early ectopic pregnancies would be jeopardized by passage of the Personhood Amendment, threatening women’s lives. New stem cell treatments for patients with Parkinson’s disease, Lou Ge- BALLOT SUMMARY: hrig’s disease, and cancers like leukemia and choriocarci- Initiative #27 would amend the Mississippi Constinoma are also at risk. tution to require voters to If it were your friend or fam- submit a government issued ily member who needed the photo identification before best treatment available, being allowed to vote; provides that any voter lacking would you deny it to them? government issued photo Vote NO on the Personhood identification may obtain photo identification without Amendment. charge from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety; Voter Identification and exempts certain residents Initiative #27 of state-licensed care facilities and religious objectors from being required to show photo ORIGINAL FILING: identification in order to vote. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2), A qualified Argument for the Petielector who votes in a pri- tion: Joey Fillingane, mary or general election, ei- Initiative Sponsor ther in person at the polls or in person in the office of the Why should you vote “Yes� circuit clerk, shall present a for Voter Identification? government issued photo identification before being al- Because the right to vote is lowed to vote. too important to allow dis(b) A qualified elector who honest people to steal elecdoes not have a government tions by voting in the name of issued photo identification other people; often times in and who cannot afford such the name of dead people or identification may obtain a folks who are out of state on state issued photo identifica- Election Day. The integrity of tion free of charge from the our entire election system is Mississippi Department of at stake. For too many years, Public Safety. The elector as nearly every other state in must show appropriate iden- the nation has strengthen the tifying documents required by protections of their election the Mississippi Department of procedures, Mississippi once Public Safety as provided by again trails behind as one of only a handful of states that law. (2) (a) An elector living and does not require any form of voting in a state-licensed care photo identification before facility shall not be required casting a ballot on election to show a government issued day. photo identification before being allowed to vote. In a culture when you are re(b) An elector who has a quired to show photo ID to religious objection to being fly out of an airport, cash a photographed will be allowed check or even rent a movie to cast an affidavit ballot, and from a video store, surely it the elector, within five days make sense to ask citizens to after the election, shall exe- s h o w a form of cute an affidavit in the appro- government-issued photo ID priate circuit clerk’s office af- before they vote. firming that the exemption applies. Voter ID will not cure all (c) An elector who has a problems with the elections government issued photo in Mississippi but it will go a identification, but is unable to very long way to ensuring present that identification that dead people do not vote when voting, shall file an affi- - as has happened in Missisdavit ballot, and the elector, sippi within the past few elecwithin five days after the elec- tion cycles - and it will ensure tion, shall present the govern- that people only get one vote ment issued photo identifica- per election. This makes ultition to the appropriate circuit mate sense to people of all clerk.
very long way to ensuring that dead people do not vote - as has happened in MissisLegals 0955within sippi the past few election cycles - and it will ensure that people only get one vote per election. This makes ultimate sense to people of all political backgrounds.
Finally, Mississippi needs to funnel more money into job training and education; Voter ID should not be at the top of its funding priorities. Confirmed cases of individuals impersonating another voter at the polls in this country are so low that there are no successful studies of the extent of such acts of fraud.
Should Mississippi spend money on something that is not an issue? It will be quite expensive for both the state and the citizens affected to implement Voter ID. The Legislative Budget Office estimates that the state’s share alone will be $1,499,000 in taxpayer dollars, and addiThe Voter ID initiative should tional IDs will need to be isbe decided on the basis of sued every year from now on. “dollars and sense.â€? There is not enough sense in Implementing Voter ID the idea of Voter ID to justify amounts to a 21st Century the investment of all those poll tax. Those who do not tax dollars. have the documents required Eminent Domain to obtain an ID will have to Initiative #31 spend money to get documents such as birth certificates. These documents are ORIGINAL FILING: not free, so some persons will be forced to “pay to No property acquired by the vote.â€? The 14th and 24th exercise of the power of emiamendments prohibit any nent domain under the laws costs or fees associated with of the State of Mississippi voting. In the 1966 case shall, for a period of ten years Harper v. Virginia Board of after its acquisition, be transElections, the U.S. Supreme ferred or any interest therein Court prohibited the use of transferred to any person, poll taxes as a prerequisite to non-governmental entity, voting in local and state elec- public-private partnership, corporation, or other busitions. ness entity with the following Voter ID laws in other states exceptions: provide for provisional ballots that require voters without (1) The above provisions shall ID on election day to show not apply to drainage and proof of ID within two days levee facilities and usage, after the election to have roads and bridges for public their ballots counted. How- conveyance, flood control ever, the use of such provi- projects with a levee composional ballots violates the Fed- nent, seawalls, dams, toll eral Voting Standards and roads, public airports, public Procedures Act of 2003; that ports, public harbors, public act requires states to stream- wayports, common carriers line registration, voting, and or facilities for public utilities other election procedures. and other entities used in the generation, transmission, Finally, Mississippi needs to storage or distribution of funnel more money into job telephone, telecommunicatraining and education; Voter tion, gas carbon dioxide, elecID should not be at the top of tricty, water, sewer, natural its funding priorities. Con- gas, liquid hydrocarbons or firmed cases of individuals im- other utility products. personating another voter at the polls in this country are (2) The above provisions shall so low that there are no suc- not apply where the use of cessful studies of the extent eminent domain (a) removes of such acts of fraud. a public nuisance; (b) removes a structure that is beyond reShould Mississippi spend pair or unfit for human habimoney on something that is tation or use; (c) is used to not an issue? It will be quite acquire abondoned property; expensive for both the state or (d) eliminates a direct and the citizens affected to threat to public health or implement Voter ID. The Leg- safety caused by the property islative Budget Office esti- in its current condition. mates that the state’s share alone will be $1,499,000 in BALLOT TITLE: taxpayer dollars,Health and addiCornerstone & Rehab of Corinth, LLC tional IDs will need toďż˝ be is- Should ďż˝government be pro302 Alcorn Dr. Corinth, MS 662-286-2286 sued every year from now on. hibited from taking private property by eminent domain EOE There is not enough sense in and then transferring it to the idea of Voter ID to justify other persons? the investment of all those tax dollars. BALLOT SUMMARY:
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Eminent Domain Initiative #31 ORIGINAL FILING: No property acquired by the exercise of the power of eminent domain under the laws of the State of Mississippi shall, for a period of ten years after its acquisition, be transferred or any interest therein transferred to any person, non-governmental entity, public-private partnership, corporation, or other business entity with the following exceptions:
(1) The above provisions shall The Voter ID initiative should not apply to drainage and be decided on the basis of levee facilities and usage, roads and bridges for public “dollars and sense.� conveyance, flood control Implementing Voter ID projects with a levee compoamounts to a 21st Century nent, seawalls, dams, toll poll tax. Those who do not roads, public airports, public have the documents required ports, public harbors, public to obtain an ID will have to wayports, common carriers spend money to get docu- or facilities for public utilities ments such as birth certifi- and other entities used in the cates. These documents are generation, transmission, not free, so some persons storage or distribution of will be forced to “pay to telephone, telecommunicavote.� The 14th and 24th tion, gas carbon dioxide, elecamendments prohibit any tricty, water, sewer, natural costs or fees associated with gas, liquid hydrocarbons or voting. In the 1966 case other utility products. Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, the U.S. Supreme (2) The above provisions shall Court prohibited the use of not apply where the use of poll taxes as a prerequisite to eminent domain (a) removes voting in local and state elec- a public nuisance; (b) removes a structure that is beyond retions. pair or unfit for human habiVoter ID laws in other states tation or use; (c) is used to provide for provisional ballots acquire abondoned property; that require voters without or (d) eliminates a direct ID on election day to show threat to public health or proof of ID within two days safety caused by the property after the election to have in its current condition. their ballots counted. However, the use of such provi- BALLOT TITLE: sional ballots violates the Federal Voting Standards and Should government be proProcedures Act of 2003; that hibited from taking private act requires states to stream- property by eminent domain line registration, voting, and and then transferring it to other persons? other election procedures. Finally, Mississippi needs to funnel more money into job training and education; Voter ID should not be at the top of its funding priorities. Confirmed cases of individuals impersonating another voter at the polls in this country are so low that there are no successful studies of the extent of such acts of fraud.
sional ballots violates the Federal Voting Standards and Procedures Act of 2003; that Legals 0955 act requires states to streamline registration, voting, and other election procedures.
BALLOT SUMMARY: Initiative #31 would amend the Mississippi Constitution to prohibit state and local government from taking private property by eminent domain and then conveying it to other persons or private businesses for a period of 10 years after acquisition. Exceptions from the prohibition include drainage and levee facilities, roads, bridges, ports, airports, common carriers, and utilities. The prohibition would not apply in certain situations, including public nuisance, structures unfit for human habitation, or abandoned property.
Should Mississippi spend money on something that is not an issue? It will be quite expensive for both the state and the citizens affected to implement Voter ID. The Legislative Budget Office estimates that the state’s share alone will be $1,499,000 in taxpayer dollars, and additional IDs will need to be is- Argument for the Inisued every year from now on. tiative: David Waide, Initiative Sponsor There is not enough sense in the idea of Voter ID to justify Eminent domain is the power the investment of all those to take private property for public use. Recently, governtax dollars. ments have taken private
Initiative #31 would amend the Mississippi Constitution to prohibit state and local government from taking private property by eminent domain and then conveying it to other persons or private businesses for a period of 10 years after acquisition. Exceptions from the prohibition include drainage and levee facilities, roads, bridges, ports, airports, common carriers, and utilities. The prohibition would not apply in certain situations, including public nuisance, structures unfit for human habitation, or abandoned property. Argument for the Initiative: David Waide, Initiative Sponsor Eminent domain is the power to take private property for public use. Recently, governments have taken private property and given it to private developers for their own personal gain. Because of this, 43 states have enacted eminent domain reform. Our Legislature tried to do so, but was vetoed. Last year, the people of Mississippi spoke up, clearly and unmistakably. Over 100,000 citizens signed petitions calling for an eminent domain reform initiative to be placed on the 2011 ballot. The initiative follows the action passed by the Legislature but necessarily differs in one respect: it expressly prevents any property taken by eminent domain from being turned over to any private developer for 10 years, which is a strong deterrent. Defending eminent domain cases is expensive and beyond the means of most citizens, while the government uses our tax money to take away our homes and property. People of limited resources are at the greatest risk of becoming victims. Opponents will argue that reforming private property laws will stifle economic development. However, the facts clearly show that this has not been the case in the many other states where reform has been enacted. Though eminent domain appears complicated, the basic question is this: Should a person’s house or farm be taken and turned over to a private developer immediately?
private property October for power18, nent, seawalls, Daily dams, Corinthian toll to take • must rest • with the Tuesday, 2011 13A roads, public airports, public public use. Recently, govern- people instead of with the ports, public harbors, public ments have taken private rich. This initiative could well Legals 0955 Legals 0955 Legals 0955 and given it to pri- be wayports, common carriers property our last chance to protect or facilities for public utilities vate developers for their own our property from being and other entities used in the personal gain. taken for private developgeneration, transmission, ment storage or distribution of Because of this, 43 states telephone, telecommunica- have enacted eminent domain Make your voice heard. Save tion, gas carbon dioxide, elec- reform. Our Legislature tried our land. tricty, water, sewer, natural to do so, but was vetoed. Last gas, liquid hydrocarbons or year, the people of Mississippi Vote Yes for Initiative No. 31 spoke up, clearly and unmis- – eminent domain reform. other utility products. takably. Over 100,000 citizens (2) The above provisions shall signed petitions calling for an Argument Against the not apply where the use of eminent domain reform initia- Initiative: Leland Speed, eminent domain (a) removes tive to be placed on the 2011 businessman and ecoa public nuisance; (b) removes ballot. nomic developer a structure that is beyond re- The initiative follows the acpair or unfit for human habi- tion passed by the Legislature Initiative 31 will hurt Missistation or use; (c) is used to but necessarily differs in one sippi. It will cripple Mississipacquire abondoned property; respect: it expressly prevents pi’s ability to attract or (d) eliminates a direct any property taken by emi- good-paying jobs. It could threat to public health or nent domain from being hinder private landowners’ safety caused by the property turned over to any private ability to sell their land for indeveloper for 10 years, which dustrial development. Please in its current condition. vote no. is a strong deterrent. BALLOT TITLE: Defending eminent domain The U.S. and Mississippi ConShould government be pro- cases is expensive and beyond stitutions currently prohibit hibited from taking private the means of most citizens, government taking property property by eminent domain while the government uses for public use without just and then transferring it to our tax money to take away compensation. Mississippi law our homes and property. further protects your land other persons? People of limited resources rights through a system of are at the greatest risk of be- checks and balances. In those BALLOT SUMMARY: extremely rare cases of emicoming victims. nent domain for major proInitiative #31 would amend the Mississippi Constitution Opponents will argue that re- jects, state agencies, local to prohibit state and local forming private property laws governments, the Legislature government from taking pri- will stifle economic develop- and the Governor all must vate property by eminent do- ment. However, the facts agree that it is for public use. main and then conveying it to clearly show that this has not Additionally, the landowner other persons or private busi- been the case in the many can always challenge the taknesses for a period of 10 other states where reform ing in court. years after acquisition. Excep- has been enacted. tions from the prohibition inMississippi has made tremenclude drainage and levee facili- Though eminent domain ap- dous strides in creating jobs ties, roads, bridges, ports, air- pears complicated, the basic through major projects such ports, common carriers, and question is this: Should a per- as Nissan, PACCAR, Ingalls utilities. The prohibition son’s house or farm be taken Shipyard, Stennis Space Cenwould not apply in certain and turned over to a private ter and Toyota. Without situations, including public developer immediately? eminent domain, none of nuisance, structures unfit for these projects would exist. If human habitation, or aban- Private property is an Ameri- Initiative 31 passes, it would doned property. can cornerstone based upon cripple the state’s ability to the concept that your home create good-paying jobs for Argument for the Ini- is your castle. It is a basic Mississippians. When nearly tiative: David Waide, freedom that must be safe- 10 percent of Mississippians Initiative Sponsor guarded. Last year, Mississip- are in desperate need for a pi’s hardworking citizens lifted job, we shouldn’t adopt poliEminent domain is the power their voices to insist that the cies that would hurt job creato take private property for power must rest with the tion. public use. Recently, govern- people instead of with the ments have taken private rich. This initiative could well Despite the rhetoric that Iniproperty and given it to pri- be our last chance to protect tiative 31 helps Mississippians, vate developers for their own our property from being it really only hurts the state’s personal gain. taken for private develop- ability to create jobs. And it does not even address the ment Because of this, 43 states most common takings of land: have enacted eminent domain Make your voice heard. Save those by the state highway reform. Our Legislature tried our land. department, local governto do so, but was vetoed. Last ments, or even utility compayear, the people of Mississippi Vote Yes for Initiative No. 31 nies or hospitals for roads, spoke up, clearly and unmis- – eminent domain reform. pipelines or buildings. takably. Over 100,000 citizens signed petitions calling for an Argument Against the Even worse, Initiative 31 eminent domain reform initia- Initiative: Leland Speed, could hinder your ability to tive to be placed on the 2011 businessman and eco- sell your land. Because Initiaballot. tive 31 will prevent industrial nomic developer The initiative follows the acdevelopment, it will mean tion passed by the Legislature Initiative 31 will hurt Missis- that landowners who would a developbut necessarily differs in one sippi. It will cripple Mississip- like to sell for such will not respect: it expressly prevents pi’s ability to attract ment be able to do and surrounding any property taken by emi- good-paying jobs. It could that land ! " will lose nent domain from being hinder private landowners’ owners the in turned over to any private ability to sell their land for in- creased # value! of their land developer for 10 years, which dustrial development. Please that development would vote no. is a strong deterrent. cause.
Defending eminent domain The U.S. and Mississippi Con cases is expensive and beyond stitutions currently prohibit the means of most citizens, government taking property while the government uses for public use without just our tax money to take away compensation. Mississippi law our homes and property. further protects your land People of limited resources rights through a system of are at the greatest risk of be- checks and balances. In those extremely rare cases of emicoming victims. nent domain for major proOpponents will argue that re- jects, state agencies, local forming private property laws governments, the Legislature will stifle economic develop- and the Governor all must ment. However, the facts agree that it is for public use. clearly show that this has not Additionally, the landowner been the case in the many can always challenge the takother states where reform ing in court. has been enacted. Mississippi has made tremenThough eminent domain ap- dous strides in creating jobs pears complicated, the basic through major projects such question is this: Should a per- as Nissan, PACCAR, Ingalls son’s house or farm be taken Shipyard, Stennis Space Cenand turned over to a private ter and Toyota. Without eminent domain, none of developer immediately? these projects would exist. If Private property is an Ameri- Initiative 31 passes, it would can cornerstone based upon cripple the state’s ability to the concept that your home create good-paying jobs for is your castle. It is a basic Mississippians. When nearly freedom that must be safe- 10 percent of Mississippians guarded. Last year, Mississip- are in desperate need for a pi’s hardworking citizens lifted job, we shouldn’t adopt politheir voices to insist that the cies that would hurt job creapower must rest with the tion. people instead of with the rich. This initiative could well Despite the rhetoric that Inibe our last chance to protect tiative 31 helps Mississippians, our property from being it really only hurts the state’s taken for private develop- ability to create jobs. And it does not even address the ment most common takings of land: Make your voice heard. Save those by the state highway department, local governour land. ments, or even utility compaVote Yes for Initiative No. 31 nies or hospitals for roads, – eminent domain reform. pipelines or buildings. Argument Against the Initiative: Leland Speed, businessman and economic developer Initiative 31 will hurt Mississippi. It will cripple Mississippi’s ability to attract good-paying jobs. It could hinder private landowners’ ability to sell their land for industrial development. Please vote no.
The U.S. and Mississippi Constitutions currently prohibit government taking property for public use without just compensation. Mississippi law further protects your land rights through a system of checks and balances. In those extremely rare cases of eminent domain for major projects, state agencies, local governments, the Legislature and the Governor all must agree that it is for public use. Additionally, the landowner can always challenge the taking in court. Mississippi has made tremendous strides in creating jobs through major projects such as Nissan, PACCAR, Ingalls Shipyard, Stennis Space Center and Toyota. Without eminent domain, none of these projects would exist. If Initiative 31 passes, it would cripple the state’s ability to create good-paying jobs for Mississippians. When nearly 10 percent of Mississippians are in desperate need for a job, we shouldn’t adopt policies that would hurt job creation.
Private property is an American cornerstone based upon the concept that your home is your castle. It is a basic freedom that must be safeguarded. Last year, Mississippi’s hardworking citizens lifted their voices to insist that the power must rest with the people instead of with the rich. This initiative could well Despite the rhetoric that Ini-
Even worse, Initiative 31 could hinder your ability to sell your land. Because Initiative 31 will prevent industrial development, it will mean that landowners who would like to sell for such a development will not be able to do that and surrounding landowners will lose the increased value of their land that development would cause. Our state constitution already protects landowners. The system has worked for over 100 years. If implemented, Initiative 31 will needlessly and negatively hurt Mississippi families. Please vote no. 3t 10/18, 10/25, 11/1/11 13432
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$ state constitution already Our protects landowners. The system has worked for over 100 years. If implemented, Initiative 31 will needlessly and negatively hurt Mississippi families. Please vote no. 3t 10/18, 10/25, 11/1/11 13432