Crist dodges queries on key bill to businesses

Visiting the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Charlie Crist touted his plans to sign a bill to help reduce taxes, improvements to education and virtues of "green energy" on Thursday evening.

But he wasn't quite so forthcoming on another topic, and it wasn't whether he'd run for U.S. Senate. The Legislature passed a bill to restore caps on attorneys fees and a ban on hourly rates after a 2008 Supreme Court ruling upended the restrictions. The business industry lobbied heavily for HB 903, and trial lawyers opposed it.

"We’d really like to see you support House bill 903," Bob Clifford, president of the Clearwater chamber, told Crist, who was accompanied by his wife, Carole.

"I better write it down then - what's it do?" Crist asked.

"Workers compensation."

"Oh yeah, yeah, yeah," Crist said, noting he met with Florida Chamber president Mark Wilson about it.

At the end, he was pressed again by another chamber official.

"Got it. Got it. I understand: 360, workers compensation. Got it in my notes," Crist said, again making no promise.

Comments

[...]

Get it done Mark! The business community needs you to explain how important this is.

[ANGRY TAXPAYER!!!]

FORGET THIS NONSENSE!!! VETO THIS POOR EXCUSE FOR A BUDGET!!!!

[Ken]

And why is this SO important "..." Is it SO IMPORTANT that employees are shut out of decent representation? The ignorance surrounding this bill by the business community is frightening.

[Dry Martini]

This workers comp bill is an outrage -- by denying access to representation and therefore medical care for thousands of Floridians, this legislation will shift costs that should be born by insurance companies to the rest of us. The Chambers' characterization that this is a win against trial lawyers is a farce; this is a blow against the few Floridians who still have jobs.

Governor Crist *should* veto it -- it is the right thing to do for the majority of Floridians. But he won't -- he's just using it as political football. I've never felt so cynical about politics in all my years.

[CRIST=SPECTER]

You know, come to think of it, Crist is WORSE than specter. At least Arlen would answer questions. Crist doesn't even respect the PEOPLE enough to give one straight answer in his life.

Then again, the words "straight" and "charlie" are rarely used in the same sentence.

Charlie, you're such a disgrace, it's unquantifiable.

[mad moderate]

Save time and veto now.
Want to see a republican publicly and openly stomp our constitutional rights in front of god,grandma and constituents?
Tell them one of our rights,as protected by the constitution,would greatly benefit the business community.
Remember,when people are thrown off work comp,they normally wind up on medicaid trying to get fixed up enough to go back to work,or on permanent Social security disability rather then properly rehabbed by the insurance company that was paid for this service.
The republicans have no trouble at all passing the responsibility off to federal programs like SSD and Medicaid,as long as it saves the "hand that feeds them"
Well they need to learn,we,the citizens of Fl is the hand that feeds them.
The number one thing that could be done to save money? Fine the insurance companies that do not take care of the injured workers.
Remember,the law has been for years and years,if the adjust does what they are supposed to,the injured workers lawyer gets NOTHING,ZIP,ZERO,ZILCH!!!
So why not work that angle? The business friendly party loves business,hates workers.
Ask adam hasner,He said unemployment is a handout! He voted against federal paid extension.

[Jim]

I love how the fringe right are oblivious to polls,popularity until the poll favors one of them.Old chuck has twice the numbers of any lawmaker and that will increase if chuck makes a stand against this bill,pushing back against this bill would assure him a senate win.

[Concerned citizen]

Business owners get injured too on the job - then what happens ? You won't find an attorney to help you get the medical care you are being denied by the w/c insurance company. Injured workers attorneys are paid a contingency fee- the defense side who works for insurance companies are paid no matter what !! So do you still want this bill to go through ? HB 903 is not looking out for the citizens -

[...]

Money grubbing trial lawyers are starving businesses out of work - this is a good bill!

[Chuck is a moron!]

"I better write it down then - what's it do?"

Classic Chuckism... "Duuuh, I don't know, I just do what the polls tell me!"

[ken]

"Money grubbing trial lawyers."

1) There are no jury trials in comp. Read the law.

2) The vast majority of these "trial lawyers" are also small biz owners.

You do realize how hypocritical you sound calling us "money grubbers" when you are declaring fiscal disaster over a 6 % rate increase?

[ken]

"Money grubbing trial lawyers."

1) There are no jury trials in comp. Read the law.

2) The vast majority of these "trial lawyers" are also small biz owners.

You do realize how hypocritical you sound calling us "money grubbers" when you are declaring fiscal disaster over a 6 % rate increase?

[wet clothes]

The bill is a disgrace. And Crist should veto it or at the very least ask the Supreme Court to release an advisory statement on the constitutionality of it.

The bill limits how much an attorney for an injured person is able to be paid upon winning a benefit. It also limits to a ridiculously low level how much the injured worker himself can pay his own lawyer to represent him. However - Big Surprise! - the bill does not limit how much the attorney for the insurance company can get paid. And the bill allows the defense attorney to get paid even if he loses the case.

Bottom line - lots of luck finding a lawyer to represent you or your family if someone you love is ever hurt at work.

Veto this thing, Crist, and prove you care about Florida's working men and women.

[Big Elephant]

I am a huge republican, and even I know this bill sucks. Crist would do well to get rid of it and ride the populist wave to the senate.

[Henry Coe Jr]

The conservative goal is to help Insurance Companies pay out little to nothing while forcing business to carry coverage for health care that really isn't about health care.
They want W/C attorneys to settle claims and then dump the injured worker into SSDI. The attorney gets paid for both while the injured worker is administratively abused and medically neglected in they have some type of life altering injury.
The majority of W/C claims the injured worker is well within weeks of the date of injury.
The more injured the worker is, the more help they need, the more screwed they are.
These changes are still catering to Tom Gallagher and his stock in Brown & Brown insurance.
The changes in W/C laws from my injury in Sept 2002 have prevented me from getting proper health care and being able to return to working. It has been the most abusive thing I have ever endured in my 44 years.
It is 100% business for everyone involved except for the injured worker. For the injured worker it is 100% personal.
Health care needs to be about health care, not about attorneys and judges.
Stop catering to the needs of Insurance Company Lobbyist and start looking out for Floridians.
To all conservatives, thanks for screwing up my health care and my life. fu.
I only wanted to get well and to get back to my life. You'll prevented that.

[Just Asking?]

Do you take a lawyer with you when you pay your dentist or when you go for your annual check-up at the doctors?
Why do you need a lawyer to pay the bill when you slip and fall at work?

[Groaning]

Re: Just Asking

If you are hurt at work you may need a lawyer if the insurance company refuses to cover your injury. If the insurance company did what it was supposed to, no one would need an attorney.

Insurance companies sometimes deny claims without a good reason. It's not fair to cripple an injured worker's ability to get an attorney if they need one.