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Cullerton: Caterpillar CEO said he wanted “stability” - Says room for compromise on key workers’ comp proposal

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* Senate President John Cullerton spoke today to the Illinois Chamber’s annual lobby day conference. He talked about several issues, including a lunch he had with Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman before the tax hike vote in January. Watch…

* Cullerton also took yet another whack at the governors of Wisconsin, Indiana and New Jersey. Cullerton said it was “disheartening” that other governors “have used our actions to distract from their own economic woes.” Cullerton went on to thank Wisconsin’s Gov. Walker for “making Illinois look normal again.”

Cullerton dismissed the idea that anybody would ever move a business to New Jersey. “And then, New Jersey. Please,” he cracked. “New Jersey has the highest taxes in the nation. Nobody’s going to be going to New Jersey from Illinois.” Have a look….

The original video can be found at Illinois Statehouse News’ site. Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno also spoke at the Chamber event today, and you can watch that here.

* From the AP’s coverage of Cullerton’s speech…

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says the Legislature must reform the state’s workers’ compensation system to improve conditions for business.

But the Chicago Democrat told business leaders today that there’s no one in the Senate willing to vote for reform right now and it will take compromise to win approval. […]

He says there’s room for compromise on a key dispute - whether employees should prove injuries were caused by their current job.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 1:45 pm

Comments

I love all the attention of trying to get companies to move out of Illinois. Hardly anyone notes that Wisconsin, Indiana and New Jersey all have higher tax rates for corporations. I mean come on!

Keep up the good work Rich. You are one of the few who actually do note the realities of the situation.

Comment by Aaron Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 2:00 pm
35,000 forklift-related injures in the U.S. every year…almost 15,000 from them tipping over.

Perhaps employers should start training their employees on proper loading and operation of their forklifts.

Instead of trying to think up new ways to screw with the families of workers like Emilio Gallardo, who just had 6000 pounds of marble dropped on him, leaving behind a widow and 3 month old daughter.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 2:22 pm
The tax rate is just one component for the high cost of doing business in Illinois. Workers comp is a big one and anecdotally, I’ve heard it’s the biggest line item corporations pay outside core business expenses.

If it’s a fight just to get a reform for workers to show how their work caused the injury they are claiming, it’s no wonder the system is whack. From the looks of it, I could show up to work in the morning, drink myself stupid, fall down the stairs at work and get a workers comp claim myself.

Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 3:05 pm
So I guess if I meet with a Leader I have to keep to myself what he tells me, but he is free to broadcast to the world what I tell him?

Comment by It's Just Me Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 3:27 pm
@John -

Worker’s comp is a core business expense. And it would be a much smaller one if Illinois employers cared more about workplace safety.

The current rules ALREADY bar worker’s compensation recovery for workers who were intoxicated where intoxication was the cause of the injury.

In the case you cited: no worker’s compensation.

How business wants to change the law: a post-injury drug test shows that you had marijuana in your system. Even though you were not stoned at the time of your injury and the injury was completely unrelated to your having smoked pot the night before work, you now have to prove that the injury was your employer’s fault.

That completely contradicts the purpose of worker’s comp, which is a no-fault system. Given that benefits are already capped and legal fees are completely limited, good luck finding a lawyer.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 3:33 pm
- From the looks of it, I could show up to work in the morning, drink myself stupid, fall down the stairs at work and get a workers comp claim myself. -

I think in the interest of fair journalism you should absolutely give that a shot…

- If it’s a fight just to get a reform for workers to show how their work caused the injury they are claiming, it’s no wonder the system is whack. -

Causation is a little more complicated than you’d like to portray it. You already have to have a professional opinion that your injury was caused by the work in Illinois. The employer is responsible for proving that the work wasn’t a cause of the injury. The businesses want to switch that burden of proof to the employee. But keep up the dumbing down, John, you certainly are one of the best in this great state.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 3:36 pm
–The tax rate is just one component for the high cost of doing business in Illinois–

What was all that fuss about the U-Hauls tben back in January? How about the virtually universal misrepresentation of the CAT letter?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 3:51 pm
“I think in the interest of fair journalism you should absolutely give that a shot…”

@STL — that was freakin’ hilarious.

Reminds me of the arguments about “jackpot justice” over medical malpractice back in ‘05.

Not one single Republican lawmaker took me up on my offer for a free Med Mal Lottery Ticket — one lucky winner would have a perfectly healthy leg amputated and win a million bucks.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 4:17 pm
Causation ? Did anyone see it happen? No it happened when no one was around. Really? When it happens 80% of the time maybe we should question it.How many softball injuries suddenly end up work related ? The system is broken.Listen to Rep.Bradley.We have lost to many jobs because of this. And yes,I broke my leg on the job and it was taken care of by workers comp.It’ the false claims that we must clear up. The burden of proff should be on the injured worker,not on the employer. Lets level the playing field.

Comment by mokenavince Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 4:30 pm
Looking at a settlement for a guy who sustained a severe wrist injury that required surgery including some plates and screws. Loss of full range of motion of wrist. Surgery failed and a second surgery and plating had to be done. Offer is just over 20,000. Medical bills exceeded 60,000. Another one - offer of 2800. Unpaid medical bills are 6400. Who is making the money here? Not the injured worker and not the lawyer. Oh, and under the Bradley bill that first case is probably worth 100 to 200 K.

Comment by Marcus Agrippa Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 4:32 pm
Marcus Agrippa,

Was there any controversy in either case that the injury actually occurred in the workplace?

Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 4:35 pm
- The system is broken. -

Oh, I don’t disagree, and I do think something needs to be done about fraudulent claims. But causation isn’t a simple issue, nor should it be. A fair compromise is what we need.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 4:42 pm
@Mokenavince -

If you want to level the playing field, then let’s TRULY level it.

The next time an Illinois worker is killed on the job, let’s not cap benefits at $500,000, as we do now.

Let’s make sure their surviving family members are paid every penny they ever would have earned, as well as the restitution for emotional damages a family suffers when a 23 year old husband and father is crushed under 6000 pounds of marble slabs.

What do you bet the jury or a judge would say to his 3 month old daughter? $10 million? $15 million??

Admit it: Illinois businesses are getting off DIRT CHEAP under the current system.

BTW, I don’t think there’s ANY evidence that widespread false claims are responsible for the rates. Filing a false claim is currently a Class 4 Felony, so if you ACTUALLY know of anyone that has done it, you should turn them in.

I’ll double check the Bureau of Labor Statistics when I get a chance.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 4:45 pm
YDD We have to start some place and have an honest discusson of how do we fix worker comp.Jobs depend on it. It must be fair for both sides. We need honest arbitors, the fix can’t be in for either side. The present system is Busted.And I don’t think it’s my job to rat someone out.Let the politicans get it right, thats what were paying them for.We must demand more from the folks we send to Springfield. Every problem has a soultion.It’s their job to fix it.

Comment by mokenavince Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 5:46 pm
Good for you John. Don’t change a thing. After all, Chicago still rules the world. You can always get some more title business before things fall apart.

Comment by Park Tuesday, Apr 12, 11 @ 6:14 pm