From contributions to this thread by conservative ideologues who do research before posting.
The report says:
"Savings in 2006 Rates
• Primarily due to the reforms, it is projected that the approved insurance rates have decreased by 46% (from average rates of $4.81 per hundred dollars of payroll to $2.59 from July 1, 2003 to January 1, 2006 (a three year period). Rates are now below where they were in 1996. These rates have been adjusted for changes in the mix of payroll by industry."
Page 4 shows very useful graphs, all of which prove the statements in the article and the statements I made,that without reforms, rates would have continued to increase.
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Study_legislativeReformsCaWCInsuranceRates/DWCExecSummary.pdf
Without reform ( i.e. under Davis or Bustamante), the rates would be more than double what they as a result of Arnold's reform.