Employers Not Allowed to Testify on Workers' Comp

Date: May 08, 2015

Speaker Michael Madigan rarely calls a Committee of the Whole, so when he does it is usually on an issue of great interest and relevance, or he’s trying to make a point.
This week the Speaker called for such a committee, where all 118 members of the Illinois House were allowed to ask questions of witnesses with the topic being workers’ compensation reform.  The witnesses were all invited by the Speaker’s office without any input from the House Republicans.
It was clear from the agenda, which had nine panels featuring nine injured workers or family members of injured workers, that the hearing was totally lopsided and without little interest in vetting both sides of this very important issue. Only one employer association was asked to testify, but no actual employers who pay the bills were given the opportunity to share their stories.
House Republicans decried the hearing as political theater and formally requested the Speaker allow for second hearing that would highlight the expensive and uncompetitive nature of Illinois’ workers’ compensation system and allow employers to testify. 
The business community joined together earlier in the day to hold a press conference not only pointing out the lack of employer witnesses, but also reiterating that none of the reforms being sought would take away benefits from those who are truly injured on the job.
At the heart of the reforms being sought by both business and Governor Rauner is the need to make Illinois a “primary causation” state like 29 other states.  Primary cause would mean the workplace is at least 50% responsible for the worker’s injury.  Right now in Illinois, the workplace only needs to be 1% responsible for the injury to be compensable under our workers’ compensation law.
No word on whether the Speaker will allow for another hearing on workers’ comp or if any of Governor Rauner’s reform ideas will be called for a vote.
But, the Speaker did late this week call for another Committee of the Whole — this time to discuss tort reform.

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