Trial Lawyers Say Illinois May Not Be As Bad Off As Claimed
From the Dispatch-Argus
Illinois' business environment and economy are not as bad as Gov. Bruce Rauner says, according to the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
Stephen Phillips, past president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, spoke Wednesday with editors from The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus about Gov. Rauner's positions, particularly his proposed changes in tort and workers' compensation laws.
He said the group has heard about what it expected since Gov. Rauner's election in November.
"There's a lot of thunder, there's a little bit of lightning, but there's not a lot of substance," Mr. Phillips said.
A "Bring Back Blueprint" on Gov. Rauner's website contends Illinois has a bad business climate and is losing jobs and population because of it. The site says Chief Executive magazine lists Illinois 48th out of 50 states for business in 2014. The site's stated goals include changing workers' compensation policies to reduce the cost to employers and changing where lawsuits can be filed.
Mr. Phillips said his group contends Illinois is more business-friendly and has a stronger economy that has been portrayed. The group's own report cites CNN as listing Illinois as the headquarters of 33 companies among America's largest on the 2014 Fortune 500. It also cites the Kaiser Family Foundation as ranking Illinois fifth in the U.S. for gross state product in 2011.
In 2011, Illinois enacted workers' compensation reforms that Gov. Rauner's report contends have not gone far enough. His report contends Illinois workers' compensation requirements remain among the most expensive in the U.S. and its rules must be changed to help ensure companies pay for actual work-related injuries.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Dispatch-Argus
Illinois' business environment and economy are not as bad as Gov. Bruce Rauner says, according to the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
Stephen Phillips, past president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, spoke Wednesday with editors from The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus about Gov. Rauner's positions, particularly his proposed changes in tort and workers' compensation laws.
He said the group has heard about what it expected since Gov. Rauner's election in November.
"There's a lot of thunder, there's a little bit of lightning, but there's not a lot of substance," Mr. Phillips said.
A "Bring Back Blueprint" on Gov. Rauner's website contends Illinois has a bad business climate and is losing jobs and population because of it. The site says Chief Executive magazine lists Illinois 48th out of 50 states for business in 2014. The site's stated goals include changing workers' compensation policies to reduce the cost to employers and changing where lawsuits can be filed.
Mr. Phillips said his group contends Illinois is more business-friendly and has a stronger economy that has been portrayed. The group's own report cites CNN as listing Illinois as the headquarters of 33 companies among America's largest on the 2014 Fortune 500. It also cites the Kaiser Family Foundation as ranking Illinois fifth in the U.S. for gross state product in 2011.
In 2011, Illinois enacted workers' compensation reforms that Gov. Rauner's report contends have not gone far enough. His report contends Illinois workers' compensation requirements remain among the most expensive in the U.S. and its rules must be changed to help ensure companies pay for actual work-related injuries.
Read more in our daily News Update...