Nybo stands alone in his party in favor of workers’ comp proposal
SPRINGFIELD — One suburban freshman lawmaker bucked party lines on one of the biggest political issues of the year Tuesday, voting in favor of workers’ compensation reforms while the rest of his Republican colleagues voted against it.
Rep. Chris Nybo, an Elmhurst Republican, was isolated Tuesday as the House clerk read the names of lawmakers who voted “yes” after the controversial vote. Nybo’s name was met with sporadic jeers from his fellow Republicans on the House floor.
Though Nybo initially avoided repeated requests for comments after the measure was approved, he issued a written statement late Tuesday after session adjourned for the spring.
Nybo said he agreed with his party that the reforms did not go far enough to reduce the workers’ compensation costs facing businesses, but he said any savings was too good an offer to pass up.
“There is no doubt that Illinois businesses will realize millions of dollars in annual savings on workers’ compensation costs,” Nybo said in the statement. “Some of our largest employers in the state, including United, McDonald’s, Walmart, Ford, Navistar and Dominicks, strongly supported this bill.”
The legislation passed 62-43 and now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn, who has already said he would sign it into law.
The workers’ compensation reforms would save Illinois businesses hundreds of millions by decreasing reimbursements to medical practitioners by 30 percent, replacing arbitrators that hear the cases and enforcing stricter guidelines for commonly cited injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
The proposal was more widely supported by Democrats. Rep. Carol Sente, a Vernon Hills Democrat, disagreed the reform didn’t do enough. She said it was a needed relief for businesses who took a hit from the income tax increase in January.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” Sente said in a written statement. “I am glad that the legislature joined me in supporting new policies to support our business community.”