Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman says workers comp legislation is “landmark reform” that should be protected.
“The workers’ compensation legislation passed this year is landmark reform that has been needed for quite some time. Our state’s workers’ compensation rates are out of control, and it is impacting economic development and job creation in our state.
“Senate Bill 1062 has already contributed to a 14.6 percent reduction in rates even before full implementation, and I believe that is only the start as our rates come more into line with those in other states. This reform is working just as intended and must be allowed to be fully implemented to ensure Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation rates are reduced, all while continuing to protect Oklahoma workers.
“I am confident this law is constitutional and hope that once the Court reviews the facts in this case, without bias, this much-needed reform will remain on the books.”
State Chamber President & CEO Fred Morgan commented as well.
“It is not surprising that trial lawyers would attempt to overturn the will of the people and their elected representatives in order to maintain the status quo of Oklahoma’s broken workers’ compensation system. We firmly believe the workers’ compensation reforms passed by the legislature this year are constitutional. The people of this state deserve a workers’ compensation commission that meets the needs of injured workers and their employers, not the needs of trial lawyers. The elected members of the legislature and the Governor overwhelming approved the shift from an adversarial court-based system to an administrative system and we are confident these reforms will be upheld.
“We are already seeing the potential of double-digit savings in workers’ compensation costs next year, so it is imperative these reforms are allowed the chance to succeed. We will support the efforts of businesses, Governor Mary Fallin and Attorney General Scott Pruitt in their fight to protect these vital reforms.”
How the hell does government decide what to fix and what to not fix? Here’s something else we could do easily. Turn off the subsidies to phone companies. And the Corporation Commission can step up and do it! Bob Anthony was right. The High Cost Fund is a waste these days. It doesn’t meet its old goals, but still sends millions of dollars every year to the phone companies.