SPRINGFIELD — After weeks of trying to come to terms on reforms to Illinois’ workers’ compensation system, a southern Illinois lawmaker now wants to tear it all down.
State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, introduced his legislation Wednesday morning. He’s been working with lawmakers, business groups, doctors and hospitals, labor unions, and lawyers. But the groups could not agree on changes. Bradley said if there is no room for agreement, there is no need to continue with the current workers’ comp system.
“Let’s get rid of the system that we know isn’t working. Let’s try something new. Let’s take this approach. … Let’s make a stand as legislators and say enough is enough,” Bradley said.
Changing the workers’ comp system is seen as gutsy by some lawmakers, but freshman State Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glenn Carbon, said Bradley’s move may not be solve Illinois’ problems.
“This system, as I see it, could be fixed if we had the political will and the determination, and frankly, the guts to stand up and do it,” Kay said.
Some business groups also want to keep the system, or parts of it. Jay Shattuck with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce said destroying something to save it is never the answer.
“(We) certainly would agree with the concept that the workers’ comp system is broken,” Shattuck said. “Throwing out the structure, without having what we think is an adequate structure is not a solution either.”
Bradley’s legislation heads to the Illinois House for a vote. Many lawmakers say the proposal eventually will produce an agreement that does not end Illinois’ workers’ compensation system.
Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed his own series of changes to the workers’ comp law. Quinn has called reforming workers’ comp a “key” to improving Illinois’ business climate.
Read more later at Illinois Statehouse News.
Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.