Orrin Hatch: “I never cease to be shocked at some of the arguments made around here. A gas station in a 30-home residence area is…”

“I never cease to be shocked at some of the arguments made around here. A gas station in a 30-home residence area is going to rise to the dignity of what we are talking about here--give me a break. Houses of prostitution near places of worship-- give me a break. Nobody is arguing about things like that. The State and local areas certainly have total control over those. I am well aware this bill is opposed by the Department of Justice, many localities, some interstate governmental associations, and certain environmental groups. Almost knee-jerked in many respects. I believe their concerns that the bill would hinder local prerogatives and significantly increase the amount of Federal litigation are not only highly overstated but highly misunderstood by them. The bill is carefully drafted to ensure that aggrieved property owners must seek solutions on the local or State level before filing a Federal claim. It sets a limit on how many procedures localities may impose. I don't consider just a few months reasonable procedure. The average case is taking 9 rac{1}{2} years. If you are some poor little property owner, or even a developer, if you want to use some of the language that has been thrown around here and you have a just reason to bring up a takings claim because the State or local or Federal Government has taken your property, you have to have pretty deep pockets to be able to litigate for 9 rac{1}{2} years.”