• Press Release

    Open Season on Private Property in N.C.

    posted February 5, 2006
    RALEIGH – North Carolina’s Urban Redevelopment Law is so vague, it allows the state to seize private property with just the thinnest of excuses. That’s according to a Spotlight report…
  • Research Report

    A Model Amendment: Protecting North Carolinians’ property rights

    posted January 5, 2006 by Daren Bakst
    North Carolina needs a constitutional amendment to protect property rights that will contain very specific language. This approach will ensure that courts are unable to undermine the rights that the amendment is designed to protect. The amendment should define key terms such as “public use” and expressly prohibit all takings for private use, including those for economic development purposes.
  • Press Release

    Property Owners Need Constitutional Protection

    posted January 5, 2006
    RALEIGH – North Carolina lawmakers need to amend the state’s Constitution to give property owners more protection against governments’ use of eminent domain powers. That’s the finding in a new…
  • Research Report

    Government Trade Restraints: How N.C. Hurts Consumers by Restricting Competition

    posted November 16, 2005 by Daren Bakst
    North Carolina recently filed a lawsuit going after private restraints of trade. But if the state really wants to reduce unfair trade practices and help consumers, it should eliminate or modify its own anti-competitive policies. The certificate of need law, occupational licensing, and other state-imposed restraints of trade hurt consumers and the economic freedom of North Carolinians.
  • Press Release

    Cooper Lawsuit Contains Irony

    posted November 16, 2005
    RALEIGH — Attorney General Roy Cooper recently filed a lawsuit against a gasoline distributor for alleged price fixing, but if state officials were that concerned with restraints against trade, they…
  • Press Release

    JLF Analyst: Amend the State Constitution

    posted October 17, 2005
    RALEIGH — The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Kelo v. City of New London drastically weakened the property rights of all citizens, according to a new analysis published today by…
  • Research Report

    Property Rights After Kelo: North Carolina Needs a New Constitutional Amendment

    posted October 16, 2005 by Daren Bakst
    The United States Supreme Court’s opinion in Kelo v. City of New London drastically weakened the property rights of all citizens. North Carolinians can protect themselves by amending the state constitution. An amendment is necessary because state legislation does not provide adequate protection of property rights. All fundamental rights, especially property rights, should be protected in the state’s highest law, the state constitution.
  • Research Report

    Auto Dealer Protectionism: State Limitations on Dealer Competition Should Be Eliminated

    posted September 6, 2005 by Daren Bakst
    North Carolina law limits the establishment and relocation of new-vehicle dealerships in “relevant market areas” where the same make of car is sold. This law was enacted due to the belief that dealers were in an unequal bargaining position with manufacturers. This rationale is now obsolete. Research also indicates that such laws hurt consumers. No justification exists to continue granting special privileges to dealers, especially when those privileges come at the expense of the public.

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