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* UPDATED x1 - Radogno asked Madigan to participate in talks * AG Madigan: “Gross overstatement” to say workers’ comp system was reformed

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* Attorney General Lisa Madigan sent out numerous press releases blasting ComEd’s bill that would’ve raised rates by about $3 a month. She was involved in several other legislative negotiations as well, including a bill to relax the new FOIA law a bit. But she said not one public word about workers’ compensation reform, until now, long after the bill has passed…

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says a recently approved legislative overhaul of the state’s workers’ compensation program contains positive factors but misses on a key issue: raising the standard necessary to prove that taxpayer money should pay for an injury.

“To say we’ve reformed the workers’ comp system is a gross overstatement,” Madigan said during an interview with the News-Democrat.

Madigan, a Democrat, said: “Because the causation standard is fairly low, the work accident doesn’t need to be the sole cause, or even a primary cause of the employee’s injury.” […]

To defend against cases where the employee’s duties are not the primary cause of an injury, Madigan said her lawyers must “present independent medical testimony stating that it’s not possible that the work even slightly aggravated a pre-existing condition. That’s very difficult to do, if not impossible, in many of these cases.”

* I find it hard to disagree with the Belleville News-Democrat on this one…

Madigan frequently uses the bully pulpit to advocate for legislative and other changes, everything from cracking down on meth dealers to opening up public records.

This spring she championed bills to strengthen the prevailing wage, protect consumers when a car dealership shuts down, crack down on meth repeat offenders and others. She vigorously opposed a bill to allow automatic rate hikes for public utilities. She called for Apple and Google to address privacy issues and Pabst Brewery to lessen the alcohol level in its new drink Blast.

But not even one press release on workers’ comp reform, which she said is a top issue for Illinois. […]

It’s disappointing that Madigan didn’t lead on workers’ comp reform this spring. Let’s hope she finds her voice in the next legislative session.

Agreed. If she felt this strongly about workers’ comp reform, she most definitely should’ve said something long ago. The General Assembly has been actively working on a bill since last fall. It doesn’t make sense that she would hold her tongue so long. Perhaps she didn’t want to offend her allies in organized labor and the trial bar. Too bad. She should’ve stepped up to the plate months ago.

*** UPDATE *** An e-mail from the Senate Republicans…

Leader Radogno met with AG Madigan on Feb. 23 – and ASKED her to participate in the workers’ compensation reform discussion. She specifically sought her input on the issue of causation. Nothing.

Oy.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:17 am

Comments

That’s a nice perk of all the statewide Constitutional offices other than governor. For the most part, you get to pick your issues, on the grounds and times of your choosing.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:25 am
Let’s faced it…AG Madigan is *not* going to to take on the big interests. Elliot Spitzer she is not.

She’s fine for taking on fly-by-night mortgage operations and high energy drinks, but when push comes to shove, as an Illinois tax payer, I do not expect her to be in my corner.

Of course, that won’t stop me for voting for her for governor. She represents the kind of leadership Illinois needs.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:34 am
Lisa really is the Teflon official in this state.

She’s spent a lot of time and PR grooming the image of little miss perfect but she’s dropping the ball on lots of big things her office could be doing.

Of course it helps to have the bar set so low in terms of what people expect from their public servants in this state.

Just sayin’.

Comment by just sayin' Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:37 am
Is she only allowed to comment on it if she was at the negotiating table? I don’t think that’s a fair charge. Who knows, she could have been responding to a question raised by the reporter.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:37 am
I’m a little surprised at her siding with big business on this issue.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:44 am
===Who knows, she could have been responding to a question raised by the reporter. ===

Maybe it was one of those “gotcha questions.”

Comment by Deep South Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:45 am
**Let’s faced it…AG Madigan is *not* going to to take on the big interests.**

Ever heard of ComEd?

Comment by dave Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:53 am
C’mon. Taking on ComEd is like criticizing telemarketers. In a PC world there are few things left that you can publicly villify and not face criticism. Those things would be: ComEd and telemarketers.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:57 am
===Ever heard of ComEd? ===

That’s an easy one. Who loves ComEd?

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:57 am
“Ever heard of ComEd? ”

Sure, if you consider “sending out press releases blasting them” as “taking them on”.

When she starts blocking their agenda legally, let me know, k?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 9:59 am
Add this to the opinion she made about the power of cogfa to review state health insurance contracts, that was reversed by the court, and she has had a tough month.

Comment by Jake Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 10:00 am
I agree with Dave. The public hates ComEd, but the legislators don’t. She took on inside special interests, including the Speaker, on behalf of the public. Let’s not forget the Rosemont deal too. I think she has a long record of taking on the big interests.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 10:04 am
=== When she starts blocking their agenda legally, let me know, k?==

She’s the AG, not the Speaker, Senate Pres or the Governor. She has no official role in the legislative process besides an advocate.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 10:06 am
Sure, if you consider “sending out press releases blasting them” as “taking them on”.

When she starts blocking their agenda legally, let me know, k?

So getting involved in the ComEd bill was not taking on big interests? But getting involved in workers comp would have been?

Comment by dave Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 10:11 am
She takes on popular enemies - ComEd, sex offenders, alcohol marketed to young people, drug dealers.

She times her involvement with workers comp brilliantly and cynically, after she can do any damage to Dem supporters, but gets herself on the record as an independent voice.

She’s really, really good at positioning herself for a run for higher office.

Comment by Robert Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 10:13 am
===So getting involved in the ComEd bill was not taking on big interests? But getting involved in workers comp would have been? ===

Correct. The workers’ comp reform talks involved two bigtime supporters: Labor and the trial lawyers. If she had made these demands in February, she would’ve most definitely alienated both groups. Now, it’s just a comment to a Downstate newspaper.

Traditionally, workers’ comp is tweaked only every five years. She totally blew this one. Totally.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 10:16 am
“She totally blew this one. Totally.”

I think she played it perfectly…

Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 10:24 am
we think proposing the FOI changes was taking on the “big interests” ( i.e. the legal notice crazy media who want this silly, wasteful govt subsidy to continue)
Let’s remember June is drama month at Capt Fax
BTW any guesses on who “sourced” the original BND stories?
Hmmmmmm.

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 10:39 am
It would have been nice to have AG Madigan involved in the process. Her office defends the State of Illinois statewide on many claims and State Government is one of the largest employers in the State. Her views and the views of her office on various issues presented would have been helpful to the process.

She should have involved her office in the negotiations and sat on the employers side of the table.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 12:12 pm
Smart move by the AG. She gets the issue on rhetoric while her dad gets the campaign contributions from the unions.

Comment by Jim Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 12:58 pm
with respect to “I think she played it perfectly…”

Politically yes. As far as influencing policy, no.

Comment by jake Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 12:59 pm
Two things: First to the media, please re-enforce which Madigan you’re writing about. It really gets confusing to the rest of us. Second, to everyone, I’ve said it many times before and I will say it again, L. Madigan is very good at making it seem like she is working for the common man, when in reality she just does what her step-father wants her to do. I agree with anonymous at 9:43.

Comment by Not a Newcomer Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 3:53 pm
Asked her to participate in the discussion? That’s poppycock. I find it hard to believe Madigan would not have participated in substantive negotiation had she been asked. Substantive negotiation versus “discussion” are very different things. If Madigan was asked to broker negotiation and did not participate, then I am quite disappointed.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 3:58 pm
Legislators should legislate, Quinn should govern and Lisa should play Attorney General. Who died and named Lisa King if Illinois? Do I really care what Lisa thinks about a particular bill? NOPE!

Comment by BolandFan Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 5:21 pm
Wow Jake, did you even read the decision?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 20, 11 @ 8:05 pm