Bill fines landlords of illegal immigrants -- Committee sends proposal to House Thursday, May 08, 2008

BATON ROUGE -- The House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice voted 7-4 Wednesday for a bill that would make it a crime to knowingly rent or lease a room, apartment or house to an illegal immigrant.

The bill now goes to the House floor for debate.

Rep. Tim Burns, R-Mandeville, said his bill is needed because some residents do not feel safe in neighborhoods where the illegal immigrants have moved. "Nothing is being done and people are feeling frustrated," Burns said.

-- FOR: Reps. Mickey Guillory, D-Eunice; Chris Hazel, R-Ball; Nicholas Lorusso, R-New Orleans; John Schroder, R-Covington; Smith; Ricky Templet, R-Gretna; and Mack "Bodi" White, R-Central

-- AGAINST: Baldone; and Reps. Roy Burrell and Barbara Norton, both D-Shreveport; and Frankie Howard, R-Hornbeck.

Oddly Absent: Reps. Elbert Guillory, D-Opelousas; and Joe Lopinto, R-Metairie

HOUSE OF REPS http://house.louisiana.gov/

STORY http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/in ... thispage=2