House Republicans grow more unhinged

I didn't think much of the decisions either. The 10 commandments ruling was confusing and I don't like the idea that a city can condemn my property in order to build an office park.

But in the latter case, for Republicans to reflexively make a comment like this strikes me as bizarre.

The bills that try to overturn the ruling would achieve that goal in different ways. In the House, Representative F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Republican of Wisconsin and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is proposing to withhold federal financing from projects in which municipalities try to take private property for economic development. The measure would also bar the federal government from using its right of eminent domain to claim private property for economic development.

In the Senate, John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, is proposing legislation that declares the power of eminent domain available only for "public use" and says such use cannot be construed to include economic development.

Republicans oppose -- in effect -- private business partnering with municipalities to promote economic development. And for Democrats to oppose this so broadly is a bit odd as well.

Oh, yeah. "Reflexiveness" is the watchword for Congress these days.