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Hallowed Ground Heritage Area threatens property rights and local rule

Date published: 6/29/2006

WARRENTON--Just one year after the Supreme Court's dread- ful Kelo decision sparked an outcry against government eminent-domain abuse, some in Congress are preparing a new threat to property owners in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Va.) wants to transform the entire U.S. 15 corridor, from Charlottesville to Gettysburg, into a National Heritage Area.

National Heritage Areas are preservation zones, where the National Park Service and designated preservationist groups team up to influence how an area is developed (or not developed).

Wolf's bill, the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Act, is a pork-barrel earmark awarded to preservationist interest groups. Only instead of merely providing pork, this would actually purchase lobbyists.

The legislation essentially deputizes the National Trust for Historic Preservation, other like-minded preservationist groups and the Park Service to oversee land-use policy in the corridor. This consortium would form a "management entity" and be given a federal mandate to create an "inventory" of all property in the area that it wants "preserved," "managed," or "acquired" because of its "national historic significance."

In an effort to downplay concerns from property-rights advocates, a spokesperson for the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership (the umbrella group that is spearheading the Heritage Area effort), claims, "A National Heritage Area does not interfere with the local authority at all."

Such a statement signifies either extreme ignorance of the legislation, or outright dishonesty. Wolf's legislation is specifically designed to interfere with local authorities.

The "management entity" would have the authority to disburse federal moneys to "states and their political subdivisions" to promote land-use policies (including land acquisition) that are favored by the entity in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

However, taxpayers would not vote on the entity's leadership--or have a say in its direction. In addition, eligibility for membership on the board of the "management entity" would be limited to members of the partnership prior to the legislation's enactment.

The special interests couldn't ask for much more: a congressionally ordained, members-only club, funded by taxpayers, for the purpose of making taxpayers live under the club's rules.

One of the chief beneficiaries would be the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has an anti-property-rights agenda.

Date published: 6/29/2006