Businesses thriving under current law

In your May 3 editorial “Seize the chance to reform workers’ compensation law,” you champion the interests of the business community and extol the significance of Caterpillar’s chairman voicing complaints about the business climate, and the purported need for workers’ compensation reform. In doing so, you do a serious disservice to the state’s reputation and to all of us in supporting the hyperbole on this issue. You leave the false impression that businesses are, or will be, unable to thrive under existing laws that protect workers when injured on the job.

With respect to our business environment the truth is businesses are quite positive about Illinois, and doing extraordinarily well here also. Ford Motor Co. recently made a long-term commitment to Illinois. American Aluminum Extrusion Co. is making a new home in Illinois. At the same time, insurance and workers’ compensation costs are not hurting the bottom line of corporations like McDonald’s, Caterpillar, Kraft Foods and State Farm.

Let’s look at Caterpillar, whose CEO, you point out, has recently complained about the cost of workers’ compensation while at the same time watching his company’s profits jump to record levels. Investors are raving about the company’s success while its CEO has seen his compensation quadruple to over 10 million annually. Yet, he complains about the legitimate injury claims of regular hourly workers.

In Illinois over the last decade workers’ compensation claims have dropped from 80,000 to 50,000, yet insurance premiums climb. We have urged Illinois lawmakers to take a closer look at the insurance industry and its lack of regulation. It’s time to reject anti-worker proposals and continue to protect the rights of hardworking Illinois citizens. Does it really make sense to further compromise the rights of Illinois citizens to satisfy some vague notion of the “business climate”? We think not.

Todd A. Smith

President

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

Springfield