The purpose of the annexation moratorium bill was to stop any
municipality from moving forward with any forced annexations, new or in
the pipeline.
The new version
of the moratorium bill simply ensures that the effective dates of
annexations that already have been passed or are being challenged in
court are no earlier than April 30, 2009. At best, it defers some
effective dates.
The purpose of the moratorium bill has been defeated, and there is no
moratorium on forced annexations (unless you want to call deferring
already passed annexations a moratorium).
The amended bill would permit:
– New forced annexations to be initiated; and
– New forced annexation ordinances to be passed
The “moratorium bill without a moratorium” came about because the bipartisan membership of the House Judiciary II Committee unanimously passed a bill that guts critical language from the original moratorium bill.
Overall, it was a bad week for honest and open government and
citizens’ rights–but why should this week be any different than all
others?
