State Chamber Comments on Workers’ Compensation Reform Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Chamber Comments on Workers’ Compensation Reform Challenge

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 18, 2013) – State Chamber President & CEO Fred Morgan comments on the case filed late Tuesday to challenge Senate Bill 1062:
“It is not surprising that trial lawyers would attempt to overturn the will of the people and their elected representatives in order to maintain the status quo of Oklahoma’s broken workers’ compensation system. We firmly believe the workers’ compensation reforms passed by the legislature this year are constitutional. The people of this state deserve a workers’ compensation commission that meets the needs of injured workers and their employers, not the needs of trial lawyers. The elected members of the legislature and the Governor overwhelming approved the shift from an adversarial court-based system to an administrative system and we are confident these reforms will be upheld.
We are already seeing the potential of double-digit savings in workers’ compensation costs next year, so it is imperative these reforms are allowed the chance to succeed. We will support the efforts of businesses, Governor Mary Fallin and Attorney General Scott Pruitt in their fight to protect these vital reforms.”
About the State Chamber of Oklahoma
Representing more than 1,000 Oklahoma businesses and 350,000 employees, the State Chamber of Oklahoma has been the state’s leading advocate for business since 1926. For more information, visit www.okstatechamber.com.

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