Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed 8 bills on workers? comp delivered to him by his Democrat-controlled Senate last week. Bills vetoed included one intended to double benefits for workers permanently injured on-the-job, one that would have made it illegal for insurance companies to reduce disability awards based on gender, race or age, and one that would have allowed some employees to choose their own doctors for on-the-job injuries. Schwarzenegger cited the measures as costly for employers and unnecessary, saying that his 2004 legislation, which has resulted in significantly decreased employer costs and significantly decreased claims filed, is working fine. Aides claim to be working on a plan to increase disability benefits by 16%, though Democratic Senator Don Perata feels this is far too little, as the cost of living in California has skyrocketed.
See "Schwarzenegger slaps down workers? comp bills", Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times, October 5, 2008