Mining lobbyist says bill to strip industry of eminent domain rights will probably be successful

By Anjeanette Damon

Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 | 11:47 a.m.

Coming off a difficult week at the Legislature, a leading mining lobbyist said today he believes a bill to strip the industry of its eminent domain powers will be successful.

Asked during a taping for To the Point, if the mining industry would lose its fight against the bill, Tim Crowley, president of the Nevada Mining Association, said “probably.”

“That’s probably the outcome,” he said. “And we’re resigned to that.”

State Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, introduced the bill this week that would eliminate the industry’s power to condemn private land for a mining operation.

The bill’s first hearing provoked a raft of support from conservative and even rural Republicans, one of whom also hinted he might be willing to consider a tax increase on the industry if it could be offset by a tax cut somewhere else.

The surprise support from the Republican quarters of the Legislature had industry lobbyists quickly rethinking their strategy and backing away from their combative tone.

Indeed, Crowley’s admission today may reflect the fact industry lobbyists have recognized it’s too early in the session to pick a fight with lawmakers.

Instead they’ll work to drag others into the fray, opening the larger debate of why any private entity—cable television companies, power companies, monorails, farmers—should have eminent domain powers and couching it in terms of every politician’s favorite topic these days: economic development.

“Public sentiment is supportive of getting rid of eminent domain authority, but I think there needs to be a pause and say, well, wait a minute, are there instances where having access to these endeavors are beneficial,” Crowley said. “And I’m not just talking about mining.”