June 20, 2016      4:45 PM
SB: Cook request for AG opinion on eminent domain puts Paxton in a difficult situation
Some Capitol observers wonder if the AG will help Chairman Cook block eminent domain powers in similar fashion to how he helped Gov. Abbott wrest more power from appropriators – especially given that Cook says Paxton defrauded investors
Texas House State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook last week looked to the Attorney
General’s Office for help in shoring up the rights of property owners
as a company prepares to build a bullet train from Houston to Dallas – with the
proposed corridor cutting through Cook’s rural district.
“It
would be problematic if a company that does not have the power of eminent
domain was entering or directing others to enter upon property it did not have
the right to condemn,” Cook wrote to Ken
Paxton’s office. “Thus, this issue is of great importance to Texans,
especially rural Texans, whose property is already being entered upon in
preparation for the initiation of eminent domain proceedings.”
Putting
aside for the moment the question of whether the rail line would be good for
the state and its thousands of “super commuters,” Cook’s request raises another
topic of discussion at the Texas Capitol: Will Paxton issue an opinion helpful to the very member of The Legislature who says Paxton defrauded investors as part of the felony case against the AG?
By Scott Braddock
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