There is hope!

The citizens of WA State have determined, with the help of several strong lobbying groups, that WA State Department of L&I is as bloated and corrupt as I believe and they have placed a ballot measure which we will vote on in several weeks that does two substantial things:
1) Relieves WA State employees of their portion of paying for L&I and
2) Privatizes the program which will allow for competitive rates.

Saveourjobswa.com is a great one stop site to learn everything you need to know about this insidious State program. A few unsurprising facts:

• Workers’ compensation tax rates are more than 50% higher than they were 10 years ago.
• The Department of Labor & Industries’ administrative costs have increased 82% from 1999 – 2009.
• Although some studies claim to show Washington has comparatively low workers’ compensation costs, the Department admits they have intentionally adopted inadequate rates ~ and now the system is facing insolvency.

I can truly believe this. The sheer amt of your taxpayer money which has been spent to try to deny my husband whose BACK WAS BROKEN on the job (and we are still fighting with them 5 years later!@#@!!!) to be near the $100k mark. Expert witnesses, doctor shopping, denial of care, money instead given to Voc Rehab consultants who work on a reward system: the more injured workers they send back to the job, the more injured workers they receive on their roster... a corrupt cycle.

I don't understand the formula and the employer's side of things but I do know L&I treats injured workers and employers with equal distain using profoundly bloated costs.
VOTE NO on 1082 when you get your ballot in mid-Oct!!