Washington State voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have opened up the state's workers' compensation system to private insurance companies. The system has been publicly run since 1911. Opponents of the initiative said that the reduced costs for workers would translate into higher costs for employers. Proponents of the initiative said that they were disappointed, but would try to get the Legislature to reform the system next year.Opponents and proponents raised nearly $10 million to battle over the initiative.
See "Privatization of workers' comp nixed in Wa. state", Forbes.com, November 2, 2010