GOP-backed workers' comp bill on the move

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As Gov. Matt Blunt called for changes to Missouri's workers' compensation system, Republican senators took quick action Wednesday to make that happen.

A bill that would overhaul the state's workers' compensation system won senate committee approval on a partisan vote, making it the first of the Republicans' legislative priorities to advance to the Senate floor.

The legislation would limit the number of workers eligible for compensation. It tightens the definition of a workplace injury by requiring work to be "the prevailing factor" for the injury instead of "a substantial factor." It also requires workers to provide "objective relevant findings" to prove their injury. Also, people traveling to and from work in a company-owned or subsidized car would no longer be eligible for compensation under the bill.

Supporters say the bill would provide needed relief to businesses grappling with soaring insurance rates and would help weed out fraud. Opponents argue the bill would hurt legitimately injured workers by making it harder to get compensation.

The measure's sponsor, John Loudon, R-Ballwin, said he wanted to get the bill out of the Small Business, Insurance and Industrial Relations Committee quickly to start crafting the final legislation.

"A bill like this has to be moving in order to force people to the bargaining table," Loudon said.

Blunt, who campaigned on the need to revamp the state's workers' compensation system to improve Missouri's business climate, has expressed support for many of the principles in the bill.

The committee's three Democrats -- Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence, Sen. Tim Green, D-St. Louis, and Sen. Rita Days, D-St. Louis -- all voted against the bill.

Callahan asked Loudon to change what he called the "evil" legislation before sending it to the Senate floor. The Democratic senator has agreed to work with Loudon and Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, to draft a compromise bill.

Callahan said he is particularly concerned about the bill's impact on retirees. Under the legislation, employees receiving Social Security or retirement benefits would have their workers' compensation benefits reduced. Callahan said he also wants to see tougher penalties for employers that fail to get workers' compensation insurance.

"I'm hoping to get some of those poisonous pills out of the bill," Callahan said.

Loudon said he is willing to discuss changes to the bill -- including the retirement benefit provision. He added that after listening to legitimately injured workers testify about the long wait for compensation, he wants to make sure the bill addresses those problems.

"There's no doubt about it that I'm very sympathetic to the notion of the workers out there who is hurt and not able to receive an income and not able to get treated," Loudon said.

---

Workers' Compensation bill is SB1

---

On the Net:

Missouri Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us