Do you think the government will seize land to build Keystone?

Question

Why do cons love the overreaching federal govt. when it benefits corporations?

Answer 1

hey, if we don't let Canada sell their oil to china by building a pipeline to a port through America, EXXON might get mad and not make as many political donations next year

Answer 2

Most state goverments, at some time, have forced private landowners to give easements to businesses that are pipeline companies so the pipelines can run in mostly straight lines.



This is nothing new. The government does not seize the land so much as they exercise eminent domain for the benefit of the pipeline company. The state of Texas is doing that for the Keystone Pipeline because some landowners in East Texas have objected to the Keystone Pipeline being routed through their property.



As for Nebraska, they do not want the original path of the Keystone Pipeline to happen at all, due to it going over their aquifer. By withholding the government power of eminent domain, the state government prevents the pipeline business from forcing landowners to grant easements for the pipeline.

Answer 3

The government doing the over reaching in this case is the government of the state of Nebraska.

It was they who wanted to allow a foreign corporation the power of eminent domain in the state of Nebraska.

And it is exactly that point of contention that is right now being decided in the Supreme Court of Nebraska.

Most legal scholars I've heard talk about the subject say NO, the state of Nebraska does not have that Constitutional power.

Answer 4

it might