Seeking to protect homeowners from unscrupulous lenders, state Sen. Jane Orie, R-41st, has introduced legislation to curb a number of abusive lending practices that have resulted in higher bankruptcy and foreclosure rates.

Orie said her legislation would provide stronger oversight over lending practices, particularly in the sub prime market.

This market includes lenders who are willing to extend credit when banks and conventional mortgage companies would not, second mortgages and loans to borrowers with less than "A" credit.

"The growth of the sub prime market has brought credit to millions of people who had earlier been unfairly judged to be poor credit risks," Orie said. "Unfortunately, this expansion in lending has also put into jeopardy those homeowners who can least afford it and has forced people out of their homes and into bankruptcy."

Orie's legislation would expand and strengthen current state laws by prohibiting a number of predatory lending practices which are often accomplished through a combination of aggressive marketing, high-pressure sales tactics, and loan terms, such as prepayment penalties, that inhibit a borrower's ability to go elsewhere for credit.

Among these practices are lending without regard to a borrower's ability to repay the loan; excessive fees and insurance; unnecessary or expensive insurance coverage such as credit life insurance, credit disability insurance, or unemployment insurance; and unreasonably high interest rates and "balloon" payments.

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO has endorsed Democratic candidateFred Verofor the state House of Representatives' 11th District in the Nov. 2 election.The AFL-CIO, the largest labor organization in the state, also endorsed Democratic candidate Steven Porter for the U.S. House of Representatives' 3rd District.The union has more than 1 million members across Pennsylvania, including more than 11,000 in Butler County.

State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, will host his fifth annual "I Signed the Constitution" event on Sept. 18 at the Evans City Oktoberfest.People at the event can place their signatures on parchment scrolls similar to the original document.The event will again features a poster contest for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students interested in participating are asked to design posters with a patriotic theme.The deadline to submit posters is Sept. 18. Posters can be submitted at the Evans City Oktoberfest or at Metcalfe's district officers in Cranberry and Middlesex townships.For information, call Metcalfe's office in Cranberry at 724-772-3110.