Workers' Comp Over?

A Senate Panel has voted along party lines to abolish the Worker's Compensation Act.

After the surprising failure of the Senate to pass the reform bill already passed by the Illinois House over the weekend, the competing effort to abolish the entire workers' compensation system in Illinois is moving forward. The House already passed this legislation and now the full Senate may consider it today before the end of the session.

Whether this is a last-ditch attempt to gain more concessions from trial lawyers and medical providers (arguably on the backs of workers) in order to provide businesses with the savings allegedly needed to stay in Illinois or a high stakes bluff remains to be seen.

It is safe to say that no one is expecting that the court system would be able to incorporate the 50,000 plus workers' compensation cases if this does, in fact, become law.

Who said the legislative process didn't take your breath away?