US county rejects bill against housing discrimination

Washington

THE Baltimore County Council this week considered a bill that would have barred landlords from turning away prospective tenants based on how they come by their rent money.

"Source of income" laws are meant to protect low-income tenants for whom fair housing's more well-trod precepts - landlords can't discriminate by race, religion, disability or family status - aren't enough.

They additionally ban landlords from discriminating against tenants who get help covering their rent from the government. Such laws mean landlords can't legally …