CA Voters: Curb Eminent Domain, Not Rent Control

A new survey suggests that California voters want to put restrictions on the use of eminent domain in their state, but they are not interested in simultaneously eliminating rent control.  The poll, conducted this spring by the Public Policy  Institute of California, hints that Proposition 99 will emerge as the preferred Amendment in the June 4th voter referendum in California.

Rent control currently influences the cost of living in hundreds of thousands of households living in manufactured housing in California.  While this is a state proposal, it is effectively a state level pre-emption over a policy that has been developed at the county and municipal level in a piecemeal fashion.

The survey, which polls 2002 residents in March, found that knowledge of and concern about eminent domain was widespread — more than 2 in 3 voters wanted something done about the issue.  This appears to affirm the uproar that has taken place in some circles over the Supreme Court’s Kelo v. New London decision, which expanded the set of viable motives ascribed to governments to act to condemn property.

The poll’s providers offered some interesting analysis on support for Prop 98 (curb eminent domain and eliminate rent control) and Prop 99 (curb eminent domain.)

• Only 37 percent plan to vote for Prop 98, but 53 percent support 99.
• 41 percent would vote against 98, but only 27 percent would reject 99.
• 45 percent of Republicans prefer Prop 98, but even more (58 percent) support Prop 99.  In fact, a greater percentage of Republicans support 99 than do independents or Democrats (both 50 percent).
• 53 percent of voters support rent control as a policy
• Among likely voters, Democrats and renters are the groups most likely to reject Prop 98.
• Among likely voters, residents in the Central Valley and in Southern California but outside of LA (Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego) are most likely to vote for Prop 99.  Both favor the measure by more than 60 percent.
• Belief that eminent domain needs either major or minor changes is held at almost the same rates among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.  Republicans have the strongest tendency to prefer “major changes,” followed by Independents.

The second bullet is the most intriguing.  It suggests that eminent domain is the most attractive public policy motivator in this set of Propositions, and that Republicans are the party most concerned about the changes.

Rent control is hardly popular, but California Republicans are demonstrating their well-known moderate leanings by seeking a small plan:  get eminent domain reform without  cutting a leading tool of keeping rents down.  In many other states, rent control would not find such widespread support.

This issue comes to the forefront at a time when immigration is on the minds of voters.  The same poll shows that Democrats diverge strongly from Republicans on this issue.  Work permits and the question of the contribution of immigrants to the economy are areas where party status appears to evoke profound disagreements.  However, there is no ballot measure that puts immigration in discrete debate.  As such, it does not appear likely to carry any impact on voter turnout.