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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

PubliCola TV: Rep. Brendan Williams on I-1082

Politics, This Washington   July 28, 2010 at 4:19 pm Erica C. Barnett

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5E3OH8yqg0[/youtube]

State Rep. Brendan Williams (D-22) stopped by PubliCola World HQ the other day to explain the extremely confusing Initiative 1082, which would partly privatize workers’ compensation insurance. We can’t say we totally understand the proposal (watch the, um, confusing video for yourself), but we learned enough to decide it sounds … risky.

I-1082 would:

• Create a private workers’ compensation option starting in 2012. (Currently, all employers and employees pay into a state-maintained workers’ compensation fund, which pays workers for injuries sustained on the job and provides two tiers of appeal for injured workers to seek compensation from the state);

• As part of that program, require employers to immediately begin paying the portion of workers’ compensation insurance that was previously paid for by employees, resulting in higher costs for businesses;

• Exempt private workers’ comp plans from the Insurance Fair Conduct Act, which provides legal remedies for people who are unfairly denied workers’ comp;

• Allow insurers to set their own rates without input from the state insurance commissioner; and

• Create a profit motive for insurance companies like AIG (and motivation for insurers to deny workers’ comp claims).

The initiative is also a power grab by the Building Industry Association of Washington, which has funneled millions in unclaimed workers’ comp dollars program to funnel into political campaigns instead of giving that money back to workers. (The BIAW is the biggest contributor to the 1082 campaign). While BIAW chapters, like the Snohomish and King County Master Builders are suing for the right to set up their own programs, the initiative says that only groups with experience running rebate programs—read: the BIAW—can run workers’ comp refund programs, rather than newcomers like local master builders associations.


  • Amy

    Erica – the initiative does not say only statewide organizations can set up industrial insurance group programs. Perhaps you should read it before opining.

  • Amy

    It also does not exempt insurers from the Insurance Fair Conduct Act, which you would also know if you had read the initiative. Just because Brendan Williams says it doesn't make it true. How about doing a little of your own research?

  • Industrial_Hygienist

    First of all, he says employers would be FORCED into using private insurance companies for their workers comp insurance. Not true, L&I would not be abolished by I-1082, it would just allow private workers comp insurance to be an option for employers & employees.

    Second, benefit levels and protection of rights to injured workers is not changed by I-1082. Check out the language of the initiative at http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/tex… Page 1 line 16 states that benefit levels are maintained.

    Also, all private insurance companies would fall under the jurisdiction of the state's insurance commissioner and would be regulated, he tries to make it sound like they'd be operating however they like, they would not be exempted by the Insurance Fair Conduct Act. Insurance rates (maximum level) would be set by an independent party like NCCI.

    Don't be scared by the AIG bailout tactics he uses. Section 3 of page 3 from the above link states that it is the state insurance commissioner's duty to ensure that only insurers with the capacity to provide for benefits be allowed to do business here, that means they have to be finanically stable.

    Also, the costs incurred by the insurance commissioner for overseeing the worker's comp system would be paid by the private insurance companies! Tax dollars would not be needed.

    Yes, Amy, you are correct that many organizations or groups could also be insurance program groups. The top of page 6 of the document describes clearly the requirements. Groups like the Washington Restaurant Association would be eligible.

    Mr Williams definately has an agenda here and he really needs to start checking his facts.

  • Djrmmm

    This is just more lies from the “No” campaign.

    The issues here is simple. L&I is going broke. Employers should not be beholden to an inefficient government monopoly and instead should be able to have options like 44 other states. That don't have all the doomsday talk that Rep. Williams states.

    Perhaps a clear reading of the initiative is in order prior to making any opinions based upon Rep. Williams “facts”.