Democrats must defend private property rights

The Hill newspaper http://www.thehill.com reports that Congressional Democrats have yet to form a "cohesive position" in reposnse to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling which granted local goverments the right to seize private property for economic development purposes. To this credit, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has come out strongly against the court ruling which is a clear threat to homeowners. I cannot think of a better issue that puts Democrats on the side of championing the average citizen over big business than supporting legislation which would reverse this outrageous decision. Why should a working class or middle class homeowner have to leave their home so that a big box store can be built under the guise of economic development ? A house resolution expressing "grave disapproval" of the Kelo v. City of New London decision won 144 Democratic votes in the U.S. House. 42 Democrats bravely supported legislation to withhold federal funds from govermens who seize private homes in the name of economic growth. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California opposed the legislation on the basis that it amounted to interference with a federal court ruling and failed to vote on the House resolution expressing disapproval of the Supreme Court decision. We are talking about protecting private property rights and nation's highest court is simply wrong about this matter. Democrats have traditionally been the party of the people - not the federal judiciary. Let's make it clear which side we are on.