MO. GOP LOOKS TO CHANGE COMP RULES

Fresh from a November victory in the race for the governor’s office, Missouri Republicans are getting started with efforts to rein in workers’ compensation costs. Senate Republicans heard testimony on a proposed bill that would attempt to do so by reducing the number of injured workers eligible for benefits. By changing the definition of a workplace injury such that work is “the prevailing factor” in the injury rather than “a substantial factor.” For example, workers injured while traveling to and from work in a company-owned car would be out of luck, as would workers who are injured while drunk on the job. Over the years, supporters of the bill say, the courts have expanded the number of people who qualify for compensation beyond what was originally intended.