Even as Republican Governor Bruce Rauner has finally introduced a formal plan to restructure Illinois' workers compensation system, the Democratic-led Illinois House took a series of votes designed to show there isn't support for it to pass.
Several measures that encapsulated Rauner's ideas fell to defeat --- with Democrats voting no, and Republicans voting "present."
Republicans say it's a charade. But Democratic Representative Jay Hoffman of Collinsville says Republicans just don't want to have to take tough, controversial votes --- like deciding if Illinois should save money by cutting reimbursements for doctors who care for injured workers.
"You wish that you weren't put in this position," Hoffman said.. "You wish that you didn't have to vote to deny injured workers compensation; you wish you didn't have to vote against your doctors and your hospitals. You wish that they would be fairly compensated if they provide care, because they support you."
That's a reference to the medical industry's historical support for Republican campaigns.
Shortly after the vote, separate workers' compensation legislation was filed on the governor's behalf. Rauner says it's a "compromise" version.
Rather than making a business liable for a claim if the entire injury was caused by something that happened while a worker was on the job, he's scaled back a plan so half a workers' injury would have to be proven to be employment-related.