Home page — 2005-03-08
Hoch nomination in trouble...
The Andrea Hoch nomination is in trouble...read more here >>> (archived). Rob Reiner for Governor! Can the Meathead take the Terminator?
> posted by Charles Wear > 3/7/05; 7:56:03 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Further analysis on Reiner for Governor
For more analysis on Rob Reiner for Governor and celebrities and politics, click here >>> (link unavailable)
> posted by Charles Wear > 3/6/05; 8:03:38 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Rob Reiner for governor?
Proving the point I have been trying to make for several weeks now, Rob Reiner leads the field of possible democratic candidates (link unavailable) that might face the governor in the next election. But can he beat him? Only time will tell.
> posted by Charles Wear > 3/4/05; 7:07:10 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
A different way of processing people?
I know this isn't on the subject, but I can't help commenting. On February 28 over 100 Iraqis were killed by a suicide bomber (link unavailable),
while they were waiting in line to be processed by a clinic. Is it just
my imagination, or are most of the casualties of the suicide bombers,
especially when there are large numbers, potential recruits who are in
line or maybe on a bus? Can't we learn a different way of processing
these people so that they aren't such easy targets?
> posted by Charles Wear > 3/4/05; 7:05:05 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Small business owners optimistic, still concerned
Owners of small businesses are optimistic about the economic outlook
for 2005 despite continued concerns about California's worker's
compensation system, according to an article recently published in the Los Angeles Daily News. (link unavailable)
Keitaro Matsuda, an economist with Union Bank is quoted as saying:
"Maybe it will take more time. After all, the final changes to
California's workers' compensation system began taking effect as of
Jan. 1 of this year," he said. "And insurers probably need to verify
lasting reductions in costs of workers' compensation policies before
they start cutting rates."
According to the California Applicant's Attorney Association (archived), insurer profits for the fourth quarter and 2004 are up 25-36% over 2003. Is that enough verification?
> posted by Charles Wear > 2/23/05; 5:38:13 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Opposition to director's confirmation rising
According to workcompcentral.com (link unavailable),
opposition is mounting to the confirmation of Andrea Hoch as the
administrative director of the California Division of Workers'
Compensation. With her confirmation hearing postponed and news
conferences pending, injured workers and their lawyers and labor are
mounting pressure to have her nomination overturned by May 3, the
statutory deadline.
> posted by Charles Wear > 2/22/05; 8:19:29 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Gov. backs off of plan to "blow up the boxes"...
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday he was backing
off a controversial proposal to abolish 88 state boards and commissions
that oversee everything from licensing doctors to running recycling
programs." The rest of the story here >>> (archived).
> posted by Charles Wear > 2/18/05; 6:07:17 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Group backing Gov. Arnold sues to remove limits...
Citizens to Save California is suing to remove campaign contribution
limitations they are violating in supporting the Governor's reforms. The story is here >>> (link unavailable)
> posted by Charles Wear > 2/10/05; 5:29:49 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
More signs that reform is working...
Doctors flee the work comp system (archived) and State Fund president retires (link unavailable). We are on a roll now.
> posted by Charles Wear > 2/7/05; 7:42:17 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Another sign reform is working....medical treatment being refused
Here's another sign that reform is working. Needed medical treatment is being refused>>> (archived)
> posted by Charles Wear > 2/6/05; 2:50:15 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Reform is working, Zenith doubles fourth quarter profits
Thank goodness, the reforms are working, Zenith has doubled its fourth quarter profits compared to 2003! Results are here >>> (link unavailable)
> posted by Charles Wear > 2/4/05; 5:21:39 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
A reader responds...
From Donald Kottler: "You asked where all the savings are going. Swartznegger is just like Bush. The savings will go to whoever donates the most $$$$ to his cause. And now that he is going to ask for more $$$$ from special interests across the country, I feel he has lost touch with the people he is supposed to represent. Signed an injured worker-6 years and counting."
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/30/05; 8:57:59 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Zenith CEO calls governor's plan "ridiculous"
Via WorkCompCentral: "Stan Zax,
CEO of Zenith National Insurance Co. and vice chair of the Little
Hoover Commission, angrily denounced Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan
to eliminate 88 state boards as "revolting" and "ridiculous," in a
Little Hoover Commission hearing."
Apparently even an insurance executive realizes you can go too far with "reform".
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/27/05; 9:12:31 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
State Fund unveils medical provider network...
State Compensation Insurance Fund, California's largest workers'
compensation insurer has unveiled its medical provider network which
includes physicians from Blue Cross, Kaiser and others. Spokespersons
claim that physician choices will not be curtailed. See the Sacramento Bee article here >>> (archived)
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/26/05; 6:12:33 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Action group for injured workers forms....sues!
Voters Injured at Work has joined with the California Applicant's Attorney Association to
file suit to stop implementation of the proposed permanent disability
evaluation schedule. It seems the courts will be left to decide. There
is apparently no political will left in the legislature to deal with
the draconian cuts the administrative director, Andrea Hoch, is
proposing.
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/23/05; 7:54:42 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Premiums make double digit drops...
Workers' compensation insurance premiums have dropped in the double digits in the last six months according to the article posted here >>> (link unavailable)
These drops are not deep enough, or quick enough to please governmental
officials and employers. One question that keeps coming to mind: Why
should California's workers' compensation costs be anything less than
the highest in the nation? I know this is always quoted as a bad thing,
but do we want to be lower than who? South Dakota?
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/20/05; 12:22:59 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Governor to cut public pensions
One of the ways the Governor will cut state expenditures is by changing
the public pension program from defined benefit to defined
contribution. This simply means that retiring public employees will
receive lower pension benefits, making state jobs less attractive. This
isn't always clear from the news reports. Read an article on the subject here >>> (archived)
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/17/05; 1:02:54 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Apparently Gov. Arnold doesn't believe in his own reforms...
The governor has proposed 30% increases in the State's workers'
compensation budget over the next two years. Is this an example of the
savings and efficiency he is bringing to California government? See the
full article here >>> (link unavailable)
Draft Michael Douglas, or Martin Sheen for governor in 2006. Or what do you think, would Rob Reiner have a chance?
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/14/05; 2:12:07 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Study shows that windfall to workers is not cause of crisis
A recent study conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California
says that the cause of the alleged workers' compensation crisis is
neither a sudden jump in claims, nor a windfall in benefits to workers.
For the entire article click here >>> (link unavailable)
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/14/05; 2:01:01 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Some are helped, some are hurt....
Reforms are helping some employers and injured workers and hurting others. You can read more here >>> (archived)
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/11/05; 8:05:16 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Hang on to your hats, 2005 will be a wild political ride
The terminator has picked a fight with educators, public employees,
correctional officers and the legislators. This LA Times article outlines the situation clearly. (link unavailable)
This means that a special election is inevitable. Watch carefully, the
insurance carriers and businesses may take this opportunity to attempt to
eliminate workers' compensation benefits. Here's the question, will the
people let them do that?
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/9/05; 11:39:52 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Oh boy, make things more complex, then impossible!
Via WorkCompCentral.Com:
"Is
California reform going too far? Though barely mentioned in his State
of the State speech Wednesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to
wrap the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, the Unemployment
Insurance Appeals Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals
Board into one, nine-member commission has many in the industry alarmed
and concerned that the technical specialty needed to resolve policy
rendering decisions will be lost."
With 15 years of experience in practicing worker's compensation law,
and constant continuing education, I am able to somewhat competently
handle a system that with the SB899 reform has been made more complex.
Now, in the name of savings, the Governor proposes that, for the sake
of streamlining government, three areas of the law should be overseen
by one board. It is highly unlikely that persons experienced in other
areas of Labor Law will be able to navigate the workers' compensation
system.
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/7/05; 7:55:51 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Insurance industry happy with reforms
Responding to Sen. Alarcon's call for rate regulation, Insurance
industry spokesman says Sam Sorich says: "Workers' compensation rates
today are falling and the future looks
even brighter as more insurers enter the California market and the
reform package is fully implemented," Sorich said. "The reforms not
only stabilized a once-turbulent system, they reversed a devastating
trend of rate hikes that were suffocating California's business
community." Read the entire article here >>>
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/7/05; 2:57:21 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
So now the Governor takes on the government
Now the governor is taking on the government, on behalf of the people,
of course. Governor Arnold will cut public employee pension benefits,
renegotiate and revamp the correctional system, redo the budget system,
restructure government, get rid of those teachers that are getting
higher pay because of longer tenure, and, oh yeah, leap tall buildings
with a single bound. And of course, if the legislature doesn't comply,
then he'll do all of the above with the super-legislature, the
initiative process, using paid signature gatherers and 30-second spots
paid for by the special interests that benefit from these reforms to
persuade voters to "fix" the state. I hope he does a better job with
this than he and the legislature did with workers' compensation.
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/5/05; 11:13:05 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Candidates for governor...
Who will stand up to the Terminator-Governor? I have a couple of
recommendations. Both have played chief executives. Both have name
recognition. Both have personal wealth. I think either could be
winners. My nominations? Michael Douglas or Martin Sheen...What do you
think?
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/4/05; 6:33:32 AM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Employer-Insurer Nirvana has arrived
Effective January 1, 2005, employer and their insurers now have the
right to control injured worker medical treatment through medical
provider networks. A permanent disability schedule designed to promote
"objectivity and predictibility" is predicted to cut injured worker
benefits by 60%. The elimination of "dueling doctors" is expected to
reduce litigation.
On the injured worker's side of the balance sheet, employers are now
required to provide medical treatment up to $10,000 up to the moment of
denial of the claim.
These "reforms", some would call them massive cuts and elimination of
choice and due process, are supposed to lead to lower workers'
compensation premiums. Keep an eye on the premiums and insurance
carrier profits in 2005.
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/2/05; 1:40:55 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
The Democratic Legislature can't stand up to the Governator...
Gov. Arnold continues his political tactics. Unless major changes are
made, he threatens the legislature with a "special election" and
ballott initiatives. It's this tactic that has left injured workers
high and dry and employers lining the pocketbooks of insurance
carriers. And a democratic leader plans to offer an olive branch to
the Governor on the occasion of his State of the State speech. He will
probably call them "girlie men" and whip them with the branch. Read more about it here >>>
Tell me, are Big Labor, and the traditional Democratic coalitions so
weak that they can't find the wedge issue that will stop the Governor
in his tracks. Or is everyone desperate for an autograph? Time will
tell.
> posted by Charles Wear > 1/1/05; 1:07:46 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Who can stand up to the governator?
Here's a question for 2005. Is there a Democrat who can stand up to the
terminator-governor? What characteristics are necessary? I have a few
in mind:
- Instant name recognition. 2. Personal wealth. 3. Ability to raise money. 4. Ability to mobilize coalitons of support.
Why is this an important question? If there is no one to stand up to
the governor, the rights of injured workers will be devastated. As it
is, no injured worker is made whole from the effects of his or her
injury. If the perfect storm combination of Big Business [Chamber of
Commerce], Big Insurance [the Workers' Compensation Carriers who are
getting rich at the expense of employers and injured workers], and Big
Politics [the face of which is our movie star turned governor] is
allowed to continue unchecked, then workers will be injured with little
medicare and no attempt to compensate them for their losses, which have
occurred through no fault of their own.
Who do you think can stand up to the governator?
> posted by Charles Wear > 12/31/04; 6:06:19 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
California employment law changes for 2005
There are a number of changes in California law affecting employment and labor starting Jan. 1, 2005. For a recap click here >>> (link unavailable)
> posted by Charles Wear > 12/30/04; 3:20:04 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)
Underwriters pleased with new permanent disability rating scheme
The national underwriters journal posts an article indicating the insurance carriers pleasure with the new rating schedule. See the article here >>> (archived)
A recent study shows that awards for permanent disability will be
reduced by 2/3. This is what the carriers call objectivity, while they
refuse to reduce rates to their customers. Where are all the savings
going?
> posted by Charles Wear > 12/29/04; 7:17:54 PM Comment [0] (link unavailable)