Thanks to Mr. Jorovosky for the plug. Today (3-21-0) the House Committee hears the same bill. It was sponsored in the Senate by Sen Sabo. Come down to State Office Building (SOB) at the capitol. Not sure which room, ask when you get there. The bill has to do with rental screening. How much we charge in fees. And how hard it is for people with messed up credit/crim/rental/court histories are having in finding a place to live. The bill is still a bit fuzzy. But basically it would let apartment applicants go out and get their own reports and applications. I would have to accept them. Or it would let the applicant be screened once every 45 days at their cost. Any other screening would be at the landlords cost. It sounds good until you look closer. 1. Don't know why, the screening companies will explain. But it violates various federal laws and Federal Credit Acts.- Remember this. Rental Research of Minnetonka has beat Legal Aid and the State of MN at the US Court of Appeals in St. Louis twice and the US Supreme Court once. Maybe list member Tom Streitz can clear me up on that. We seem to pass laws in this state that are clearly un-constitutional. But that doesn't seem to bother the committee members. How many homes could have been built with those legal fees? BTW- When you go out and buy your house, does the bank give you the credit report and you shop it around? Never and there are good reasons why. 2. The intent of the bill is to force the landlord to absorb the cost of multiple screening checks. This sounds nice until you realize who really pays the cost. The already approved tenants in the building. Walaaa. RENT GOES UP. This is a tax on approved renters! Kind of like the sick tax. 3. Or the landlord will take many apps. Then only run one. More then likely, it will be the person with the most money. PERIOD. Those with " I need a 2nd chance" written all over them, are NEVER going to get a place to live. Conclusion: As usual, by trying to help we are only making it worse. We need more units! Not less app fees. Craig Miller Former Fultonite [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
