In the aftermath of Kelo, we are hearing people say that the push to stop such property theft should be done at the state level. I am all for that, but there is one problem: much of the so-called redevelopment that has spurred these property seizures is funded in part with federal taxes. Thus, even if state laws prohibit the kinds of property seizures that were embodied in Kelo, municipalities will be able to appeal to the federal government for permission to continue. The precedent for this, I believe, comes with the asset forfeitures that have become very common. In … Continue reading Kelo and Federal Money