• Publications
    • Essay
    • Case Study
    • Policy Study
    • Report
    • Testimony
    • Other
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Support the Show-Me Institute
  • Publications
    • Essay
    • Case Study
    • Policy Study
    • Report
    • Testimony
    • Other
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
State and Local Government / Property Rights

Finally, a Centene Post …

By David Stokes on Jun 14, 2007

We haven’t posted yet on Centene for a couple of reasons. First of all, it’s all over the local news so it’s not like anyone needed to hear about it from us. Second, our expert on this issue, Tim Lee, is out of the office this week. But this does not mean that we have not been following it closely (and excitedly). The Post-Dispatch has an article on it today in the business section that features some truly amazing quotes from developers who must live in a universe different from my own. Take your pick of absurd statements from among:

"If a property owner knows you want a property, they can raise the price," Donovan said.

Donovan means this as a bad thing. As if property owner in America should not have the right to determine what they are willing to sell their own property for. Or how about:

"The decision will have a chilling effect on any community government thinking about invoking eminent domain," Case said.

Again, Case means this as a bad thing. He obviously could not care less about the "chilling effect" property and homeowners can feel about being forced to sell their property so that someone else can put it to a use determined by government to be preferable. In his defense, Case is developing several projects in our area and none use eminent domain, so let’s give credit where it’s deserved.

Developers have long had too much power in the St. Louis area. Wildwood was incorporated in the 1990s solely because developers were getting permission for everything they wanted to build in the area, even over the objections of Greg Quinn, the West County councilman. This is a good ruling by the Supreme Court, and now I hope Centene and the property owners can sit down and work out a deal based on negotiations, not threats.

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
About the author

David Stokes

Director of Municipal Policy

More about this author >
    Footer Logo
    Support the Show-Me-Institute
    Showmeinstitute.org is brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
    • Publications
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Donate
    • About
    • Contact

    Reprint permission for Show-Me Institute publications and commentaries is hereby granted, provided that proper credit is given to the author. We request, but do not require, that those who reprint our material notify us of publication for our records: [email protected]

    Mission Statement
    Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy.

    © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved