Senate Stalemate Over Workers' Comp Broken
By Tom Sharp, Associated Press Writer - May 19, 2004NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ A Senate stalemate over Gov. Phil Bredesen's Workers' Compensation Bill ended Wednesday night after a day of impasse and intrigue, which could allow legislators to finish for the year on Thursday.
Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Haynes and Democratic Leader Ward Crutchfield, who have sponsored the Bill for Bredesen despite their own fears it is too punitive to workers, had kept it bottled it up in an obscure Senate committee for two days.
After meeting with the governor during breaks in a daylong session and several discussions among their colleagues, they agreed to let it move.
"I guess I gave in," said Haynes, D-Goodlettsville. "I finally admitted I had some commitment to at least put it up for a vote, reluctantly."
Haynes said he still doesn't like the Bill and will try to amend it on the floor. If he can't change it, Haynes said he might vote against his own Bill.
The Workers' Compensation Bill is a major push of Bredesen's, who insists the state's current system is costing Tennessee jobs.
"The governor is pleased. He understands it will get a full hearing,'' said Bredesen spokesman Bob Corney. "He remains committed to his proposal.''
The effect of Haynes' and Crutchfield's refusal to move the Bill rippled through the Legislature for two days before the dam broke late Wednesday.
The House, which had been prepared to act on the budget Tuesday, instead held it in a subcommittee and left it there Wednesday, dealing with a heavy calendar of relatively minor items before leaving for the day. The Workers' Comp Bill has already passed the House.
Haynes said he disagrees with a provision of the Bill that lowers a multiplier used to determine how much money can be paid to injured workers who return to their jobs. The current rate is 2.5; the bill would lower that to 1.5.
He said that would cost a worker with a fairly common back injury to receive $24,000 instead of $40,000 under the current system.
"In my opinion it's very harsh on the workers," Haynes said. "I think Workers' Comp Reform is being balanced on the backs of the workers of Tennessee. I don't think that's fair.''
Labor Commissioner Jim Neeley disagreed, saying there are several provisions that should improve conditions for injured workers, including penalties for companies that fail to pay claims promptly.
"In total it's a balanced Bill," he said.
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On the Net:
Read SB3424/HB3531 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us
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Copyright © 2000 The Associated Press
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