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   The Governor's Commission on Workers' Compensation
2002-2003

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The State of Florida myflorida.com site contains information that includes transcripts
of the meetings and also copies of many of the presentations made to the commission.
Please go there and become more informed.

Editorial Opinion

In 2002, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida appointed the Governor's Commission on Worker's Compensation, ostensibly to help work out the problems that all the stakeholders experience with the current system of worker's comp in Florida. He avoided any appearance of impartiality and willingness to work out problems with win-win solutions when he actively neglected to appoint any injured workers to the panel. His surrogates repeat that there are plenty of persons who can represent work-injured persons adequately, so what's the problem??

A commission appointed to investigate doctors would certainly have doctors on it; a commission for Native American issues would certainly have Native Americans on it. But work-injured persons do not have the privilege of being involved in the governmental body that could seriously and severely affect their lives.

In the recent past Female Americans, African-Americans and Native Americans have been treated similarly. "Now, now, be good little (demeaning words inserted here). We'll take good care of you. Trust us." I can see the Big Daddy patting the heads of those "good little" people in my mind, smiling patronizingly all the while.

The situation is the same now with work-injured persons. Big Daddy will take care of us.   Right, Jeb?

Is that why the commission is overweighted with persons who have financial or power stakes in the continued abuses of work-injured persons?  Is that why the citizens who are the recipients of the workers comp system are not even included in the decision-making process as equal partners?

There is simply no compelling reason for the unbalanced representation on this commission unless it is to insure that conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made that are aligned with the desires of the 'shadow government of Florida', a term I first read in a St. Pete Times article. This 'shadow government' is funded by a particular business lobby and its annual million-dollar campaigns to keep money in the hands of those most deserving - its members and their stockholders.

Trust you, my foot.

(Commentary continues after a short break to list the members of the commission....)

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Members of the Commission

-Pete Carpentter, of Jacksonville, Former Chief Operating Officer, CSX Transportation, Inc. (Chair)

-Claude Revels, of Keystone Heigghts, Corporate Safety Director, JM Family Enterprises, Inc.

-Kathleen Davies, of Miami, Sr. Director of Safety and Risk Management, Burger King Corporation.

-Jay Carlson, of Punta Gorda, Caarlson & Soforth.

-Derrick Wallace, of Orlando, Prresident and Chief Executive Officer of Construct Two; President of the Economic Development Commission in Orlando; Board of Directors, Florida Chamber of Commerce.

-Judge Maria Ortiz, of Miami, Judge of Compensation Claims, District K.

-Hayden Dempsey, of  Tallahassee, formerly in the Executive Office of the Governor.

-Kevin McCarty, of Tallahassee, Department of Insurance.

-Dwayne Sealey, of Tallahassee, Secretary-Treasurer, Florida AFL-CIO.

-Stewart Colling, of Maitland, President of Florida Workers Advocates.

-Michael Ozegovich, of Key Largo, CCommunity Services Director; South Florida Carpenters Regional Council.

-Sen. Bill Posey, of Rockledge, Chaair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

-Rep. Leslie Waters, of Largo, Chaiir of the House Insurance Committee.


(Now we return to our Editorial Comment, already in progress....)

Let's see.... there's a big business rep, insurance "insiders", a Jeb "insider", and big business again, a union guy or two who have seen the terrible situations of their work-injured members and who seem to care, and one single attorney who happens to advocate for Florida workers (and we thank him very much). And a couple more.

And where was that work-injured person, again?

Did I forget to mention all the Associated Industries of Florida lobbyists who have time and money to research and plot and shmooze and gain the attention of the commission members with various incentives before and after commission meetings?

And that work-injured person trying to be heard gets how much time with them??

And gets how much funding to pursue the research and prepare the presentations??

And has how many pain-free, functioning bodies to come to meetings without having to worry about parking and stairs and lousy seating and paying for participating by being nearly bed-ridden for the next few days??

Our compassionate conservative governor is probably more accurately characterized
by the term "congenial conservative."
The make-up of this commission shows no compassion at all.

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Meeting Schedule
which may be changed for pretty good reasons,
especially if the change could possibly give the insurance carriers an edge.
Stay alert.

September 24 Universityof West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Conference Center, Section C
Pensacola

October 22 University of North Florida
12000 Alumni Drive
University Center, Board of TrusteesRoom
Jacksonville

November 12 FloridaInternational University
 3000 N.E. 151st Street
 Koven's Conference Center, Ballroom214A
 North Miami

December 6 Hillsborough Community College
Room L106
4001 Tampa Bay Boulevard
Tampa

January 7 Edison Community College
8099 College Parkway, S.W.
Corbin Auditorium
Ft. Myers

January 21 Tallahassee

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 Updated Feb.7, 2003
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