EFF's Election Report ·
Gonzales Letter ·
Welfare Reform ·
Boeing Contract ·
Budget & Taxes ·
Business Climate ·
K-12 Fact Sheet ·
EFF Health Study ·
Paycheck Protection ·
Transportation ·
Unemployment Ins. ·
Receive Updates ·
Bookmark EFF ·
Contribute ·
EFF in the News ·
How Can I Help? ·
Join EFF ·
Media Center ·
|
OPINION-EDITORIAL December 2, 2003 Serial killer claimed workers' comp for injuries sustained dragging bodies? Jason Mercier | Evergreen Freedom Foundation
Is Ridgway telling the truth? We don’t know, but since L&I is unlikely legally permitted to provide us the answer, the Legislature may want to determine if a fraud investigation has been initiated into Ridgway’s claims. That said, we’re not holding our breath. Our state’s Department of Labor and Industries has long been criticized for poor management of the workers’ compensation system.
The timing is ironic since, yesterday, the Department announced another 9.8 percent rate hike in the coming year, which will be added to a 29 percent increase passed last year. (Initial proposals would have increased rates by 19.4 percent and 40.5 percent in the respective years.)
In a press release announcing the latest increase, L&I attempted to placate businesses with the promise that “the agency also will propose legislation to strengthen its ability to pursue workers, employers and providers who defraud the system."
We’re curious about how L&I plans to do this and what it is that is currently prohibiting such oversight now. The Evergreen Freedom Foundation has filed a public records request to find out just what sort of legislation the Department proposes.
In stark contrast to the approach taken by Washington’s L&I, Oregon is cutting workers’ comp rates and saving its employers approximately $22.7 million in 2004.
In a September 23 press release, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) boasted, "Oregon's workers' compensation system gives businesses in our state a competitive advantage. Oregon employers continue to benefit from the strength and ability of a reformed system built on consensus and cooperation among employers, workers and government. And our administrative cost savings reaffirm that state agencies are taking very seriously their responsibility to reduce the economic burden of regulation."
This will be the thirteenth consecutive year Oregon has either cut its workers' compensation rates or the rates have held stable (most years during that time period have seen significant rate decreases).
This means stiff competition to keep businesses in our state. Since L&I seems to be the business antagonist, the legislature will need to intervene to support and protect the future of jobs in our state. More information:
Jason Mercier is a budget research analyst for the Olympia-based Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit public policy research organization dedicated to individual liberty, free enterprise and accountable government. Contact: Jason Mercier | Budget Research Analyst | 360.956.3482
|
1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
