I hate to be repetitious, but sometimes in the column-writing business it's inevitable.

Eighteen months ago, I wrote in this space that the debate over Proposition 90 came down to two unfortunately simpleminded campaign slogans-"protect our homes" or "taxpayer trap." Proposition 90 would have greatly restricted the use of eminent domain-hence it would have protected our homes. But it also would have required the government to compensate landowners for virtually any downzoning-hence the taxpayer trap.

"Taxpayer trap" won, but not by much. So now we've got Proposition 98 on the June ballot-a watered-down and slightly sideways version of Proposition 90. And for good ...

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