Castle Coalition to launch "Hands Off My Home" campaign against eminent domain abuse.
The following email went out to members today:
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Dear Friends:
Today IJ and its Castle Coalition announced the launch of the “Hands Off My Home” campaign. We have pledged at least $3 million to the fight to end the use of eminent domain for private profit. This campaign will focus the universal wave of opposition to the Kelo ruling into the only venue left for home and small business owners in desperate need of protection: state courts, state legislatures, and the initiative process.
Over the next year, the Castle Coalition will educate, support and coordinate grassroots activism to end eminent domain abuse at the state and local level. At the same time, the Institute for Justice will go to the state courts and ask them to place limits on the abuse of eminent domain. Each state has its own constitutional prohibition on eminent domain for private use. Even if the U.S. Constitution provides no protection, state constitutions can still prevent state and local governments from taking homes and businesses for the benefit of private business. To read more, see IJ's release on the campaign at the end of this email.
As we move forward, we will announce a series of actions that ordinary citizens can take to end eminent domain abuse. Today we sent a letter to the Governors of each state to sign the Hands Off My Home Pledge that they will work to end the use of eminent domain for private development in their state. We ask you, in honor of Independence Day, to call or email your Governor and ask him or her to sign the Hands Off My Home Pledge. The Pledge and contact information for each Governor appears below. We will announce on the Castle Coalition website when each Governor signs it. In the coming weeks, we will extend the same pledge to state legislators and local government officials.
On July 5th at 6 pm, there will be a rally at the New London City Hall, 181 State Street, to ask the City Council to allow Susette Kelo and the other homeowners to stay in Fort Trumbull. If you live anywhere near New London (CT), come out and show your support!
To contact your governor, use the email or phone number below:
Alabama <http://www.state.al.us/> Gov. Bob Riley 334-242-7100 e-mail:governorbobriley@governor.state.al.us <mailto:governorbobriley@governor.state.al.us>
Alaska <http://www.state.ak.us/> Gov. Frank H. Murkowski 907-465-3500 e-mail: Governor@gov.state.ak.us <mailto:Governor@gov.state.ak.us>
Arizona <http://www.az.gov/webapp/portal/> Gov. Janet Napolitano 602-542-4331 <http://www.governor.state.az.us/post/feedback.htm>
Arkansas <http://www.accessarkansas.org/> Gov. Mike Huckabee 501-682-2345 email:<http://www.state.ar.us/governor/formpop.html>
California <http://www.ca.gov/> Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger 916-445-2841 email: governor@governor.ca.gov <mailto:governor@governor.ca.gov>
Colorado
Gov. Bill Owens 303-866-2471 email: governorowens@state.co.us
<mailto:governorowens@state.co.us>
Connecticut <http://www.state.ct.us/>
Gov. M. Jodi Rell (860) 566-4840 email: Governor.Rell@po.state.ct.us
<mailto:Governor.Rell@po.state.ct.us>
Delaware <http://www.state.de.us./> Gov. Ruth Ann Minner (302) 744-4101 email: <http://www.state.de.us/governor/comments.shtml>
District of Columbia http://dc.gov/index.asp Mayor Anthony A. Williams 202-727-2980 email: http://dc.gov/atd/atd_askthemayor.asp
Florida <http://www.myflorida.com> Gov. Jeb Bush 850-488-4441 email: jeb.bush@myflorida.com <mailto:jeb.bush@myflorida.com>
Georgia <http://www.state.ga.us/> Gov. Sonny Perdue 404-656-1776 email: <http://www.gov.state.ga.us/contact_dom.shtml>
Hawaii <http://www.hawaii.gov/>
Gov. Linda Lingle 808-586-0034 email: gov@hawaii.gov
<mailto:gov@hawaii.gov>
Idaho <http://www.state.id.us/>
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne Fax: 208-334-2175 e-mail: <http://gov.idaho.gov/ourgov/contact.htm>
Illinois <http://www.state.il.us/> Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich (217) 782-0244 e-mail: governor@state.il.us <mailto:governor@state.il.us>
Indiana <http://www.in.gov/gov/>
Gov. Mitch Daniels 317-232-4567 email:
<http://www.in.gov/gov/contact.html>
Iowa <http://www.iowa.gov/state/main/index.html>
Gov. Thomas Vilsack (515) 281-5211 email:<http://www.state.ia.us/governor/comments/capitol_correspond/index.html>
Kansas <http://www.state.ks.us/> Gov. Kathleen Sebelius 800-748-4408 | 785-296-6240 http://www.ksgovernor.org/comment.html <mailto:governor@state.ks.us>
Kentucky
<http://kentucky.gov/>
Gov. Ernie Fletcher (502) 564-2611 email: <http://governor.ky.gov/contact.htm>
Louisiana
<http://www.louisiana.gov/wps/portal/>
Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (225) 342-0991 <http://gov.louisiana.gov/govemail.asp>
Maine
Gov. John Elias Baldacci 207-287-3531 governor@maine.gov
<mailto:governor@maine.gov>
Maryland <http://www.state.md.us/>
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. (410) 974-3591 e-mail: <http://www.gov.state.md.us/mail/>
Massachusetts <http://www.state.ma.us/> Gov. Governor Mitt Romney (617) 725-4005 GOffice@state.ma.us <mailto:GOffice@state.ma.us>
Michigan <http://www.michigan.gov/> Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm (517) 335-7858 <http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331--,00.html>
Minnesota <http://www.state.mn.us/> Gov. Tim Pawlenty (651) 296-3391 e-mail: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us <mailto:tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us>
Mississippi <http://www.state.ms.us/> Gov. Haley Barbour 601.359.3150 <http://www.governorbarbour.com/Data/Services/Services.asp >
Missouri <http://www.state.mo.us/> Gov. Matt Blunt (573) 751-3222 e-mail:mogov@mail.state.mo.us <mailto:mogov@mail.state.mo.us>
Montana <http://www.state.mt.us/> Gov. Brian Schweitzer (406) 444-3111 e-mail: <http://governor.mt.gov/contact/comments.asp>
Nebraska <http://www.state.ne.us/> Gov. Dave Heineman 402-471-2244 email: <http://www.gov.state.ne.us/mail/govmail.html>
Nevada
<http://www.state.nv.us/>
Gov. Kenny Guinn (775) 684-5670 e-mail: <http://gov.state.nv.us/mailgov.htm>
New Hampshire
<http://www.state.nh.us/>
Gov. John Lynch (603) 271-2121 <http://www.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp>
New Jersey <http://www.state.nj.us/> Gov. Richard J. Codey 609-292-6000 e-mail: <http://www.nj.gov/dca/contactus/contact.shtml>
New Mexico <http://www.state.nm.us/> Gov. Bill Richardson (505) 476-2200 <http://www.governor.state.nm.us/email.php?mm=6&type=opinion>
New York
<http://www.state.ny.us/>
Gov. George E. Pataki 518-474-8390 <http://www.state.ny.us/governor/>
North
Carolina <http://www.ncgov.com/>
Gov. Michael F. Easley (919)733-4240 e-mail <http://www.governor.state.nc.us/email.asp?to=1>
North
Dakota <http://discovernd.com/>
Gov. John Hoeven Telephone: (701) 328-2200 e-mail: governor@state.nd.us
Ohio <http://www.state.oh.us/>
Gov. Bob Taft 614-466-3555 e-mail: Governor.Taft@das.state.oh.us
<mailto:Governor.Taft@das.state.oh.us>
Oklahoma <http://www.state.ok.us/> Gov. Brad Henry (405) 521-2342 e-mail: governor@gov.state.ok.us <mailto:governor@gov.state.ok.us>
Oregon <http://www.oregon.gov/> Gov. Ted Kulongoski 503-378-4582 email: representative.citizen@state.or.us <mailto:representative.citizen@state.or.us>
Pennsylvania <http://www.state.pa.us/> Gov. Edward G Rendell (717) 787-2500 governor@state.pa.us <mailto:governor@state.pa.us>
Rhode Island <http://www.state.ri.us/> Gov. Donald L. Carcieri (401) 222-2080 e-mail: rigov@gov.state.ri.us <mailto:rigov@gov.state.ri.us>
South Carolina <http://www.myscgov.com/> Gov. Mark Sanford 803-734-2100 e-mail: governor@govoepp.state.sc.us <mailto:governor@govoepp.state.sc.us>
South Dakota <http://www.state.sd.us/> Gov. Mike Rounds (605) 773-3212 e-mail: sdgov@state.sd.us <mailto:sdgov@state.sd.us>
Tennessee <http://www.state.tn.us/> Gov. Phil Bredesen 615 741-2001 e-mail: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us <mailto:phil.bredesen@state.tn.us>
Texas <http://www.state.tx.us/>
Gov. Rick Perry (512) 463-2000 email: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact
Utah <http://www.state.ut.us/>
<http://www.state.ut.us/>
Gov. Jon Huntsman
(801) 538-1000 e-mail: governor@utah.gov
<mailto:governor@utah.gov>
Virginia <http://www.state.va.us/> Gov. Mark R. Warner (804) 786-2211 email: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact/email_form.html
Vermont
<http://vermont.gov/>
Gov. Jim Douglas (802) 828-3333 email: <http://www.vermont.gov/governor/contact.html>
Washington
<http://access.wa.gov/>
Gov. Christine Gregoire (360) 902-4111 email: <http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/govemail.htm>
West
Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III
888-438-2731 email: <http://www.wvgov.org/contact.cfm>
Wisconsin
<http://www.wisconsin.gov/>
Gov. Jim Doyle 608-266-1212 email: <http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/contact.asp>
Wyoming <http://www.state.wy.us/>
Gov. Dave Freudenthal (307) 777-7434 governor@state.wy.us
<mailto:governor@state.wy.us>