The Illinois House gave tentative approval to a bill that would remove the state's workers' compensation program. Critics of the workers' compensation system say that workers can receive payments without proving that an injury is job related, and that the system is slanted in favor of workers. Labor unions say that they know the system is not working well, but say that completely removing it would only lead to expensive and long court battles for injured workers. The Governor has proposed reforms to the system that would address some problems, but supporters of removing the system do not think it goes far enough. The plan was approved in a voice vote, and a final vote is planned for the near future.
See "Ill. House may scrap workers' compensation", Christopher Wills, Business Week, April 7, 2011