* Yikes…

The House’s research and appropriations unit [Democrats] estimates 12-13 percent of state workers, at some point, file a workers compensation claim.

Either the state is a horrible employer that fails to pay attention to worker safety, or workers are abusing the system. The Speaker thinks it could be the latter…

“Given that statistic, my concern is that there’s a culture or environment among some state workers that would encourage workers compensation claims when they’re really not warranted,” said House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).

His approp director suggests it could be the former…

John Lowder, director of the House research and appropriations unit, said there could be more attention to detail if a private company was hired.

“I would think they would be more thoroughly researched to determine what caused the injury, what can we do to lessen the injury and what we can do to lessen the claims,” Lowder said.

*** UPDATE *** From AFSCME…

Because the Speaker’s staff has refused repeated requests to share the material referenced at a recent hearing, we have not been able to review it or assess its validity. We have no way of knowing what assertions it makes or what data such assertions may be based on.

With regard to this issue in general, it is important to consider the very high proportion of state employees who work in uniquely physical, strenuous or dangerous occupations, such as in prisons, on highways, in psychiatric hospitals, law enforcement, developmental centers and veterans homes to name just a few.

We do not know whether the data includes analysis of comparable state employees in other states.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Meanwhile, Gov. Pat Quinn touted the creation of a whole bunch of well-paying union jobs today. From a press release…

Governor Pat Quinn today announced an agreement between Rock Island Clean Line LLC and Flora, Illinois-based Southwire Company that will support wind turbine and transmission manufacturing in Illinois and create 1,450 union construction jobs under a project labor agreement in Illinois over a three-year construction period. The agreement supports Governor Quinn’s commitment to growing the renewable energy sector in Illinois and continues Illinois’ leadership in the green economy. The governor announced the agreement after delivering the keynote address at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Regional Wind Energy Summit held today in Chicago.

“Illinois is a leader in the renewable energy sector, and agreements like these are helping make Illinois even more competitive,” Governor Quinn said. “These cutting-edge projects will help maintain Illinois’ national leadership in wind energy and manufacturing, and create good paying, home-grown jobs.”

Under the agreement, Southwire will supply the overhead transmission cable for the Rock Island Clean Line project. This project will consist of approximately 500-mile overhead, high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that will deliver 3,500 megawatts (MW) of renewable power from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota to communities and businesses in Illinois and other states to the east. Construction of the Rock Island Clean Line could begin as early as 2014 and continue over the next few years.

* But as the AP reports, it’s tough for some manufacturers to fill their jobs…

Nationwide, an estimated 600,000 manufacturing jobs are going unfilled, according to a survey by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute published last year. Manufacturers expect the shortage to worsen in the next three to five years as older workers retire.

“Exacerbating the issue is the stubbornly poor perception of manufacturing jobs among younger workers,” the report says, adding that manufacturing ranks at the bottom of industries in which young workers would chose to start their careers. […]

In Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn is supporting manufacturing by pledging incentives to retain or expand the employee base for such companies as Ford Motor Co., truck- and engine-maker Navistar International Corp. and Excel. Aides said Quinn’s strategy to help the industry includes investments in roads and a push to streamline regulation, such as last year’s overhaul of the workers’ compensation system.

* In other news, some nursing homes have apparently found a loophole in state law that lets them avoid hiring higher-priced nurses…

But the 2010 legislation does not distinguish between registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), who do not have to undergo as much training as RNs. A new rule expected to come up Tuesday before the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules would require facilities to use RNs for 20 percent of direct care.

Lawmakers who worked on the reforms said that was their intent. “There can be no true nursing home reform without addressing the issue of RN staffing ratios,” says Sen. Jacqueline Collins, a Democrat from Chicago, in a prepared statement.

However, many for profit nursing homes argue that they cannot afford to hire enough RNs to fulfill such a demand. “We are not against improving staffing, but we are against putting in a requirement that sets nursing homes up to fail,” Pat Comstock, executive director of the Health Care Council of Illinois, told the State Journal-Register. Comstock did not return a call from Illinois Issues.

Sen. Heather Steans, who was a sponsor of the reforms, said that a revenue stream was built in to pay for higher staffing levels. “I very much urge the JCAR members to support and pass the rule. I think it will very much help improve the quality of care in our nursing homes. We also passed the bed tax, which was primarily to fund the increased staffing we are putting into place, so funding has been put in place for that,” Steans said.

*** UPDATE *** The proposed nurse staffing rules were voted down by the committee.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Roundup…

* Trustees give Hogan a task: Restore trust

* Trustees Tell U Of I President To Mend Fences With Faculty

* Editorial: The Illini play defense

* Illinois lawmakers back to work, then off for election

* Editorial: Don’t end employees’ waivers for tuition

* Cahnman: Do away with state legislators’ pensions

* 800 rally to stop closure of Dwight prison

* Report: Closing Dwight Correctional Center could cost area $45M

* Quinn, don’t take us back to ‘bad old days’ in prison system