Joseph Skeen: “I rise in strong support of ending the Tucker shuffle. I do so based on a simple and a powerful premise, the Fifth…”

“I rise in strong support of ending the Tucker shuffle. I do so based on a simple and a powerful premise, the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which currently states that no person shall, quote, be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. I strongly contend that our Founding Fathers' intent was crystal clear and that the catalyst for much of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was based on a tyrannical government's overzealous abuse of power and constant infringements on individual freedom, including property ownership. Unfortunately, the courts have found numerous ways to circumvent a constitutional right that is no less important than the right to free speech. They have done so under the guise of due process, which in actuality is being used to retard the process and prevent citizens' constitutionally guaranteed right to seek compensation and relief from a Federal Government that increasingly seems to disregard the most important document in world history. In essence, this legislation will facilitate a return of constitutional principle by allowing property owners who have been subjected to a taking the opportunity for real redress without fear of the court's ability to do the Tucker shuffle.”