AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy’s (TPPF) Center for the American Future Director Robert Henneke issued the following statement on the White House threat to veto a legislative solution to the federal seizure by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of private property along the Red River in Texas:

“The land along the Red River inside the Texas counties of Wichita, Wilbarger, and Clay is private property, and has been for generations. Our clients have ranched, paid taxes, and raised their families on this land. The White House's veto threat of Rep. Thornberry’s legislative solution to this issue is an affront to private property rights. Furthermore, the Administration’s position clearly indicates that this land grab is intentional and not the result of any mistake. The Center for the American Future eagerly awaits its day in Court as we continue to battle for our clients’ homes.”

On November 17, 2015, the Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) unconstitutional and arbitrary seizure of thousands of acres of private property along the Red River in Texas. TPPF’s Center for the American Future is representing individual property owners, the counties of Wichita, Clay, and Wilbarger, and the Clay County Sheriff in the lawsuit.
 
The federal government is attempting to take thousands of acres of Texas land from homeowners and ranchers along the Red River. According to the Bureau of Land Management, the land is inside the river and is therefore public land. However, the south bank of the river is about a mile north of where the government says it is. Furthermore, many Texans live on that land, and many others make their livelihoods from farming and ranching on it. These Texans have lived and paid taxes on the land for generations, and they have titles and deeds going back to the 1800’s.
 
For more information on the dispute and lawsuit please visit:www.RedRiverPropertyRights.com
 
To schedule an interview with Mr. Henneke, please contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.

The Honorable Robert Henneke is the Director of the Foundation’s Center for the American Future. A rising star of conservative litigation, Henneke has had several of his winning cases result in published court opinions. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served the people of Kerr County as the twice-elected County Attorney where he brought conservative values to county government. As an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas, Henneke had a perfect win record in defending Texas, its elected officials, and agencies against federal lawsuits. Henneke is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as well as all Texas Federal District Courts.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.

Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter