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Madigan schedules votes on workers’ comp, tort law

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Illinois

* From a press release…

Working to bring closed-door discussions on important issues into the open, House Speaker Michael J. Madigan on Thursday announced the House will vote next week on proposals to change laws dealing with the civil justice system and assistance received by injured workers.

“Changes to the assistance received by those injured on the job and putting a constitutional limit on lawsuit judgments are at the top of the governor’s agenda, and they have a direct impact on the financial security of middle-class families and the victims of horrible tragedies due to the negligence of others,” Madigan said. “Changes to laws that impact so many Illinois families deserve serious and open discussions.”

Madigan said the House will vote on the issues on Thursday, May 21. Madigan’s announcement follows two full House hearings on the issues of assistance received by workers injured while on the job through no fault of their own and Illinois’ civil justice system and the protections it provides to victims and their families.

“We’ve had two thorough and informative hearings in the full House on both these issues, and legislators had a great opportunity to listen to the stories of real Illinois families, their experiences with Illinois’ workers’ compensation and civil justice systems compared to the systems in other states, and how their lives have been impacted,” Madigan said. “If the governor is serious about the changes he is proposing, the right thing to do now is for us to bring these issues into the open and have a constructive and open discussion, vote and see what steps need to be taken from there.”

Madigan pointed out the Legislature’s scheduled adjournment of May 31 is nearing. Madigan again encouraged the governor to file his legislation in anticipation of the votes next week.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:10 pm

Comments

Throwdown Thursday?

Comment by sal-says Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:16 pm
Madigan said “assistance received by workers injured while on the job through no fault of their own.”

So, if I read this correctly, the Speaker will support a primary cause standard. After all, if a worker DID cause a majority of the injury or it occurred outside of work, then the employer should not pay, correct?!!!

Comment by 1776 Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:46 pm
Do they also effect attorneys? Might be where this is coming from, just asking

Comment by Come On Glenn Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:46 pm
I would not consider the Legislative Office or the Press Shop being very effective at stopping these embarrassments for their boss.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:50 pm
Madigan simply showing Rauner he is playing chess and Rauner may need to stop playing checkers

Comment by Etown Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:00 pm
No, this is payback for the Good Friday cuts and the secret “Vegas” meetings.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:05 pm
I don’t think it’s chess or checkers. I think it’s a game of votes poker. Madigan is showing Rauner that he has a stronger hand.
Deal again, Governor?

Comment by Casual Observer Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:07 pm
You could be right Willy, but it can be hard when you have boss who’s into vilifying so many.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:09 pm
hahahahahahaha
———————
“sorry boss, we didn’t know there’d be quicksand”
———————
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:50 pm:

I would not consider the Legislative Office or the Press Shop being very effective at stopping these embarrassments for their boss.

- Etown - Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:00 pm:

Madigan simply showing Rauner he is playing chess and Rauner may need to stop playing checkers

Comment by zonz Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:09 pm
This might be the one where Madigan is truly circumventing possibilities for bi-partisan agreement on this issue. That would be unfortunate, if there remains possible compromise.

Rauner’s best rhetorical move might be to seriously demand that Madigan bring Term Limits to the floor as a proof of willingness to work together. That would cause the Dems to crumple into a heap, like the Republicans did on RTW. Won’t get a vote, but could work in the press.

Comment by walker Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:19 pm
Hehe I haven’t always agreed with Madigan but boy I do respect the way the man plays the game I.e. Let’s finish with this foolishness and get on to more important things, and don’t lie to me or there will be consequences. This ain’t his first rodeo

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:22 pm
So what exactly would Dems be negotiating away in secret meetings when they can demonstrate overwhelming strength in public votes?

If the governor thinks his “leverage” is a scorched-earth budget, he’s delusional.

Rauner might not know it yet, but a big part of his job is “governing.” You think he really wants to spend a year dealing with the mess and wearing the jacket for a budget billions snort?

It’s a bad bluff.

There’s going to have to be some “victory” for Rauner to save face, but I dont know what it is.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:25 pm
Professor Madigan is now holding Politics 451 in the capitol. Hopefully, Rauner can find enough time during recess, or maybe nap time to attend.

‘Cause school is now in session.

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:27 pm
The forecast calls for more Republican cowardice.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:33 pm
@Word: exactly. How and when does Rauner get his face saver?

I hoped this issue would be Rauner’s limited “victory.” That’s why this slap down might be unfortunate. Hard to go back on a No vote a week later.

Comment by walker Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:37 pm
Did Rauner contribute to the wrong people? This confuses me. If he’s trying to buy votes, why not try to buy yes votes?

Comment by Casual Observer Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:40 pm
I think the Governor is under the illusion Democrats want to raise taxes and he is therefore demanding they pass his U-turn Agenda before he’ll let them vote for a tax hike.

Boy is he going to be surprised when that doesn’t happen.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:50 pm
I just hope this is good for the worker. My son got badly burnt working in the oil field with a baby on the way. His boss begged him not to claim workmans comp. My son being very young was concerned about loosing his job if he claimed. He waited a day before going to see a specialist the end result was a long stay in the hosp. and skin graphs all over his body. His boss was afraid of what it was going to cost him. My son was afraid of losing his job with a baby on the way. So something needs to be done not sure what it is but something. Workmens comp. was very hard to deal with they don’t want to pay anything and suffering was the end result.

Comment by bird Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 6:54 pm
Rauner understands how to manage money.

Madigan understands how to manage political capital.

Rauner burned up a lot of political capital with the Good Friday cuts and his attempt to push his Turnaround agenda on local governments.

The Republicans in the statehouse are probably hoping that Rauner comes to the realization that his supply of political capital, unlike his supply of campaign $$$, is rather limited and he needs to be a better steward of it.

Comment by Stoic the Vast Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 7:12 pm
Stoic, Rauner certainly knows how to throw money around.

In the last two weeks, he’s kicked in another $550K to his own $20 million campaign fund, plus another $250K to that Turnaround Illinois fund that Zell started with $4 million.

In addition that ILGO “progressive” front that’s sweet on him claims to have raised $14 million.

That’s a lot of first amendin’ free speechifyin’ to after dem nasty ol’

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 8:07 pm
….interests.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 8:08 pm
Madigan has been rightly criticized in the past for refusing to allow bills to get a vote on the House floor. Rauner should be thanking the Speaker for permitting votes on his agenda.
And I wonder if Rauner, who’s paying the Republicans just for showing up (not voting), will extend the same deal to state employees. Just show up for work and sign in. No need to do your job.

Comment by Truthteller Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 8:21 pm
===In the last two weeks, he’s kicked in another $550K to his own $20 million campaign fund, plus another $250K to that Turnaround Illinois fund that Zell started with $4 million. ===

Just wait until the mainstream media finally catches up to my story from Tuesday.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:25 pm
I agree, Rich–mainstream media need to start writing about him handing out all kinds of cash.

Comment by Tom Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:36 pm
Rich, looks like the Tribbies must have been reading the ol’ Blog and just caught up.

Friday may not be an up day for the Press Office.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:20 pm
Illinois is a great state, and if Bruce Rauner doesn’t think so, he should buy another one.

Comment by Don't bet against Illinois Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 11:46 pm
Since someone in Rep. Madigan’s office reads this blog: Thank You. He’s not my Rep, and I am actually a moderate Republican, but we have to get to the budget. The only way I can see to do that is give the Governor what he says he wants: votes on his agenda. Once they all fail, we can move on to important and realistic stuff like the budget.

For all the Republican politicians (that read this blog) whining that these are not the Governor’s bills: the Governor has had ample time to produce verbiage for a bill. Since he’s too busy speaking all over the state on RTW to produce any verbiage, I fully commend Rep. Madigan for taking the Turnaround Agenda booklet and producing verbiage from it. One more thing: I (as I said) am a Republican, and I don’t agree with any of the Turnaround Agenda as it has been publicized. Get to work, please.

Comment by mythoughtis Friday, May 15, 15 @ 6:47 am
My only concern is that, since he’s not going to be able to get his way with the Bendover Agenda, Rauner is going to take out his ire on the easiest targets, state workers.

Comment by CharlieKratos Friday, May 15, 15 @ 7:53 am
In this brave new world of unlimited Big Money free speechifyin’, it would be a good idea to have ISBE require immediate disclosure of disbursement of contributions over $1,000, like they do receipt of contributions.

Right now, if you look up the guv’s campaign fund, there’s no readily available way to tell that he just dropped $400K on legislators in a session week.

Disclosure of such massive contributions in final sessions days by a totally-non-special-interest-who-is-just-doing-it-because-he’s-a-nice-guy would serve the governor’s deeply held principle of government transparency.

Maybe he should convene a secret working group to talk it over. Code name, “Mammon.”

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, May 15, 15 @ 7:56 am