Rep. John Wray lends support to Texas A&M Student Senate Bill on eminent domain

Submitted photo.

Representative John Wray (R-Waxahachie) attended the Texas A&M University Student Senate hearing on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 to support a student senate bill opposing eminent domain.

ELLIS COUNTY — On Wednesday, February 10th, Representative John Wray (R-Waxahachie) attended the Texas A&M University Student Senate hearing for TAMU Senate Bill 68-36, named the Eminent Domain Opposition Act. Wray spoke in support of the measure, which aimed to establish the Student Senate’s default position as opposed to eminent domain; much of the conversation focused specifically on the proposed Dallas to Houston High Speed Rail Project and their anticipated use of eminent domain to seize private property along the route.

Wray, a vocal opponent of the Texas Central Railway project, said at the hearing, "What I want to ask you to do is to vote in favor of this bill; because if you do that, you’re voting in favor of property rights. If you do that, you’re voting in favor of fair market value. If you do that, you’re voting in favor of keeping the phrase ‘willing’ in front of the phrase ‘seller.’ And you’re voting to uphold the free market."

After debate, the act passed overwhelming by a vote of 60-2. Texans Against High-Speed Rail and several state officials, including Representative Wray, were in attendance to support the measure and represent their constituents who would be impacted by the rail.

Representative Wray is proud of the continued excellence displayed by his alma mater and applauds the active role and decision of the Student Senate in this matter. Wray authored and co-authored several pieces of legislation during the 84th session addressing the proposed project and continues to be an active leader in protecting private property rights and taxpayer dollars.