PROPERTY RIGHTS; Full-Speed Ahead

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The splash stemming from the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling on the government taking of private property generated tidal waves rather than ripples.

The Vermont Guardian reports lawmakers in 16 states -- including Florida -- have introduced legislation to ban or restrict the use of eminent domain for private development. Lawmakers in seven more states have announced similar intentions, Georgia and two other states are considering previously introduced bills, and efforts for state constitutional amendments are under way in Florida and at least five other states.

And all those efforts are aside from moves in Congress by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and others to …