Kim Norvell

knorvell@dmreg.com

OTTUMWA, Ia. — Sen. Rand Paul said at a town hall meeting Friday that as president he would never let the government “take away private property and give it to somebody else” through eminent domain.

He spoke to a crowd of about 80 in Oskaloosa at an event billed as an eminent domain town hall. The Kentucky senator said while he is in favor of creating energy independence by building domestic pipelines, he is opposed to any land being taken from private property owners without proper compensation.

“One of the worst powers, one of the most egregious powers you can give a government is the power to take your property,” he said. “And we have a government that’s grown too large in this sense.”

Paul said while he supported the Keystone XL pipeline, he said he voted against a bill that would allow the use of eminent domain to gain easements.

In Iowa, the Bakken pipeline would run through Oskaloosa in Mahaska County if the Iowa Utilities Board approves the $3.8 million project. Opponents worry about reduced crop yields with a pipeline underneath their land, and some farmers fear eminent domain will be used to gain easements for the crude oil route.

The Bakken pipeline is being proposed by Energy Transfer, a leader in the domestic energy sector.

Paul said he does not support the taking of land from one private property owner and giving it to another. The company should instead make fair and reasonable offers to purchase the land, he said. Paul hinted the power could be used for a public utility, however.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to use eminent domain for private enterprises,” Paul said. “Here in Iowa, (the Bakken pipeline) would have to go through a utility commission, but if I were on the utility commission I would vote that it doesn’t sound like it’s a utility to me, it sounds like it’s a private enterprise.”

In Ottumwa on Friday, Paul declined to say who would be his running mate if he won the Republican nomination for president. An audience member said she thought it was only fair to know a candidate’s short list before the caucus.

Paul said he is “not sure” yet who his vice president would be. He added, however, that his cabinet would consist of “people outside of government” such as CEOs, who know how to cut spending and can help downsize government.

“Part of the problem in Washington is it’s a revolving door of the same people,” he said. “ … I think you need people from business.”

WHERE IN IOWA?: Track presidential campaign visits across the state

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AT THE EVENTS

SETTING: Paul spoke with voters at Smokey Row Coffee in Oskaloosa and the Pizza Ranch in Ottumwa.

CROWD: More than 80 people were at each event.

REACTION: Both audiences clapped for Paul several times throughout his speeches. He took questions from both audiences.

WHAT’S NEXT: Paul will be back in Iowa this month, but his schedule has not yet been made public.