A Conspiracy of Fake Property Rights Initiatives

In Washington State, we're under the assault of I933 - a fake property right initiative which is a free for all for developers and a giveaway for attorneys. But this initiative is being funded by an out of state New York developer named Howie Rich and he is involved in a number initiatives nationwide.

These property initiatives are part of a nationwide conspiracy to free up land for special interests. They are all designed to exploit citizen anger about the Supreme Court's terrible Eminent Domain ruling...but they are essentially fake eminent domain initiatives in that they don't address the issue at all while putting the burden on taxpayers to bribe developers from building unwanted factories, Wal Marts, strip clubs, parking garage, hog farms and gravel pits in their communities.

These initiatives also force Progressives to empty their pocketbooks and put their best talent in campaigns simply to fight these initiatives - distracting them from better work. And, they draw rural conservative voters to the polls in November to support Republican candidates across the ticket - part of Rove's get out the vote strategy (2004 was Anti-Gay Marriage initiatives).

I'm trying to start tracking the nationwide elements of this ... here is a listing that I've found so far. If you have more details, please let me know.

• Oregon - Measure 37 - Passed in 2004
• Washington - Initiative 933
• Nevada - Property Owners Bill of Rights (only the pro-website link right now)
• Idaho Proposition 2
• California Proposition 90 (Courage Campaign)
• Montana Initiative 154
• Arizona Proposition 207

Specifically - if you know whether or not an initiative has made the ballot in a state - and the link to the organized opposition Web site. Please send them along or post them as comments below.

The High Country News did a great expose on Howard Rich's pro-developer campaign here.

UPDATE: Excellent summary of each state's status here and a broader summary here.

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