Legislative Weekly Recap…April 6, 2007
from Chamber Lobbyist John DeWorken
Editor’s Note: Please excuse the text-only version of this week’s update.
Workers’ Comp Reform Deflates in Senate
At the end of the day, no matter how an individual cut it or sliced it, supporters of true workers’ compensation reform never had the votes in the Senate to get meaningful reform passed. In the end, the Senate gave second reading to a bill that does very little to reform the system. (Third reading is expected Tuesday).
Strong kudos should go out to Senators Harvey Peeler and Greg Ryberg, who were ready to fight on behalf of the business community and who were as disappointed as the business community that a bill that should have reformed an out-of-control system ended up being a compromise bill.
When it was realized that the votes were not there to pass a good bill, supporters and opponents immediately began negotiating the bill. On the opponents’ side were Senators Hawkins, Land, Malloy and Rankin; on the business community’s side of the negotiations were Senators McConnell, Martin, Ritchie and Peeler. Senators Ritchie and Martin worked very hard on behalf of the business community as well.
What the business community ended up with, besides extreme disappointment, is a bill that, at best, tweaks the system.
The bill provides for:
- The dissolution of the Second Injury Fund
- Reversal of some court cases
What is not in the bill is:
- Objective standards to limit Commission discretion
- Restricting repetitive trauma
The bill worsens:
- Tiller v. National HealthCare
- Shoulder injuries, which extend from 180 to 300 weeks
Third reading is expected Tuesday. The Upstate Chamber lobby team, as well as the SC Civil Justice Coalition, will continue fighting for the business community when the bill goes to the House.
Long-Time Senator Dies of Stroke
Senator Bill Mescher, who took over as chairman of the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee from former Senator J. Verne Smith, died this weekend of a stroke. At age 79, Mescher was the former chief executive at Santee Cooper and a supporter of business and economic development. This is the third loss for the Senate in six months (Reverend George Metze, Senator J. Verne Smith).
House Took Vacation; Back This Week
The House of Representatives last week took its Spring break, leaving only the Senate in the State House. The House will be back this week to work on its calendar.
Senate Finance To Take Up Budget This Week
Now that the subcommittee work is, for the most part, complete, the Senate Finance Committee is expected to take up the $7.3 billion budget everyday of this week. Of the 23 members of the committee, four come from Spartanburg and Greenville Counties (Senators Reese, Fair, Thomas and Verdin).
