Federal Agencies Failure to Comply with Executive Order  Has Cost Taxpayers
over $1 Billion


Washington [D.C]-  Today,  Roger Marzulla, General Counsel for Defenders of
Property Rights, testified before Members of the U.S. House Subcommittee on
the Constitution, telling them that over $1 billion worth of private
property takings by the federal government has occurred over that last ten
years.   

"Federal agencies are simply not complying with their obligations under the
Takings Executive Order, which is designed to protect individual
constitutional liberties in property while protecting the public fisc,"
said Mr. Marzulla.  "In a report issued today by Defenders of Property
Rights, we conclude that widespread noncompliance with the Takings
Executive Order has resulted in a massive violation of constitutionally
guaranteed property rights, subjecting the federal government to liability
for $1 billion or more." 

Mr. Marzulla served as an attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice under
former Attorney General Edwin Meese III.  In 1988, he spearheaded the
Reagan administration's initiative that resulted in Executive Order 12,630.
 The Executive Order was designed to avoid where possible the destruction
of constitutionally protected property rights by federal agencies by
requiring that a takings impact assessment (TIA) be performed prior to any
federal action that implicated private property rights.

"We urge Congress to required federal agencies to comply with the Takings
Executive Order, and to undertake a good faith effort to protect the
property rights of the citizens as the Constitution requires," stated Mr.
Marzulla.  

. . .

Online at http://www.defendersproprights.org/media/031016.asp


******************************************************
FEAR also offers an unmoderated discussion list and digests for all lists
List unsubscribe: mailto:fear-list-request@mapinc.org?Body=unsubscribe
Swap to digest: mailto:owner-fear-list@mapinc.org?subject=digest
******************************************************