Chambana Sun

Rep. Chad Hays (R-Catlin) argued on the House floor on Wednesday that the workers' compensation reform bill pushed by Democrats lacked one big thing: reform.

Hays, arguing that businesses needed real changes to protect them from collapse under Illinois' workers' comp system. He told the story of FreightCar America, a Danville business that employed hundreds of people in the community before its Illinois branch was closed due to high workers’ compensation premiums.

“This was a place where people needing a second or third chance could find work and earn a sustainable wage,” Hays said, according to a press release. “The business owner warned me that our ridiculous workers' compensation laws were going to force him out of business, and eventually it happened. Several hundred people who really needed that opportunity to earn a decent wage lost their jobs because the company’s sister city in Pennsylvania had workers' compensation premiums that are one-fifth of what is required in Illinois.”

Rep. Chad Hays (R-Catlin)

The House passed the bill on a party-line vote of 64 to 51, with no Republicans voting in favor. Gov. Bruce Rauner has vowed to veto the measure.