Posted on 04/20/2005 8:48:10 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez threatened Tuesday to hold up budget talks unless Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration reworks rules to carry out last year's workers' compensation legislation. "Democrats would have never signed onto a deal that puts injured workers in harm's way," Núñez told more than 500 workers and labor union advocates during a rally on the east lawn of the Capitol.
Marking the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the workers' compensation law, SB 899, Núñez joined a parade of Democratic lawmakers, union leaders and workers accusing Schwarzenegger of breaking a pledge to protect benefits and medical treatment for those suffering serious on-the-job injuries. They also called for the ouster of Andrea Hoch, the governor's administrative director of the Division of Workers' Compensation.
Critics say severely injured workers will not be able to reach the threshold needed to receive the law's increased benefits. At the same time, those with less serious injuries could wind up with nothing because of stricter guidelines.
"We need to put an end to what the new law on workers' comp is doing to injured workers, or else we are not going to move forward on a budget," Núñez said.
In the meantime, Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Santa Ana, backed the removal of Hoch, the person charged with writing the rules. "We can't have an administrative director who has proposed regulations that are not based on the law."
Next Wednesday, Hoch faces a tough battle to save her job during a Senate confirmation hearing.
Business and Republican leaders dismissed the Assembly speaker's threat and said rewriting the rules or removing Hoch would slow recent progress, including a yearlong reversal in workers' compensation insurance premiums.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Connie Cardinalli, right, of Manteca is comforted by Peggy Sugarman after talking about the suicide of her husband, John Cardinalli Jr., an injured worker. She spoke Tuesday at a Capitol protest against the new workers' comp law.
Yes, Please delay the budget talks, Fabian. Brilliant!
That's typical of the mode of operation of you c'Rats.
Beth Slavin of Modesto, who injured her knee while working, lies on a stretcher Tuesday outside the Capitol. The lectern for speakers and a symbolic coffin are in the background.
Where are those tapes of the democrats talking about delaying the budget for a few extra weeks for political gain? One of these days, the legislature will wake up to how stupid they are. Alas, that will be the morning after the redistricting bill goes into effect.
Open Mic Catches California Democrats ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?s=open+mic+catches+democrats&ok=Search&q=deep&m=any&o=score&SX=42668ebd49aac4e60d7f569d2eecc9957d3ac319
In 15 years my company as not had a single workman's comp incident. Not one yet my premiums have gone up 500%. WC in California is still a farce.
Connie Cardinalli, a member of the Voters Injured at Work board of directors, said her husband, John, killed himself last August because of the pain he suffered from workplace injuries.
“He did not take his own life,” she said. “He was murdered by a system that ignores ... the needs of injured workers.”
Our insurance went up after a Caltrans worker rear ended three of our workers. It seems CA is a no fault workmans comp state, as the State Fund people said we would have had to sue the state to make them pay the claim.
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