Gov. Ed Rendell this week signed into law two bills designed to help prevent mortgage fraud. The first measure (HB 985), authored by Berks County Rep. David Kessler, prohibits financial institutions from firing, or threatening, or discriminating or retaliating against an employee for: 1) reporting to the employer or to the appropriate authority a violation of the law; or 2) damages arising out of the employee's having participated in an investigation, hearing or inquiry held by an appropriate authority or in a court action relating to a violation of the law. The second measure (SB 170), authored by Sen. Mike Brubaker of Lancaster County, will prohibit a mortgage broker or originator from being the exclusive recipient of communications to a consumer, such as a mortgage payment invoice or 1096 interest statement. The law is designed to prevent brokers from withholding information about interest rates, fees or monthly payments, and it to ensure that consumers are informed of the terms of their mortgage.