The Hunted -- Steve Hunter attacks Marc Ellinger and Eric Schmitt

Below is the text of a memo from Rep. Steve Hunter (R-Nutville) lambasting the state Chamber of Commerce and the Missouri Chapter of the National Republican Lawyers Association (whose members include the Treasurer of the House Republican Campaign Committee and GOP candidate for Senate, Eric Schmitt) about the Second Injury Fund.  Its amazing the lengths the Hushlof camp is willing to go to disparage Sarah Steelman for being custodian of the second injury fund.  Grab a bucket of popcorn and an overpriced soda, this primary is going to be a lot of fun.

TO:             Members of the General Assembly

FROM:        Steve Hunter

                   State Representative, District 127

RE:              Second Injury Fund

DATE:         April 21, 2008

I am attaching a hit piece that Dan Mehan (President of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry) sent last Friday afternoon to businesses and local Chambers across Missouri.  A similar piece was sent last year at this time by Dan Mehan as well.  I send it, not for your sympathy, but as a warning as to the heavy handed tactics the State Chamber of Commerce will use if you do not allow them to manipulate your decisions like a marionette.

Five days prior to the release of this rediculous memo, Dan Mehan and Mike Grote (Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Missouri Chamber) sat across the table from me discussing this very issue.  At least ten other interested parties, including National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB); Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM); Missouri Insurance Coalition; the Missouri Self Insurers Associaion; Associated Builders and Contractors; and the Retailers Association and many others who were represented as well.  We went through the proposed legislation item by item and I made it very clear that I would pass the legislative fix for Schoemehl, but wanted to fix the entire problem if at all possible.  All agreed the fund would be insolvent within months if a fix for the entire system is not passed, and that should be our main objective, not just a band-aid for one small part.

So, why would Dan Mehan care so much about fixing this one provision?  Maybe it is because his organization makes hundreds of thousands of dollars using the Second Injury Fund like a re-insurance tool funded by all employers, and he wants to keep this little known scam intact.  In fact, in a meeting on this very issue last spring , Mike Grote told me “we do make money from the fund.”  No real shock there considering the effort they are making to minipulate it.  Mike Grote is the President of the State Chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association.  Numerous lawyers in this organization take advantage of the Second Injury Fund.  How much influence does this lawyer organization have with the Chamber?

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of your hard work the past eight years as we have worked together to find resolutions to many problems.  Senate Bill 1 reforming Workers’ Compensation; Tort Reform and Unemployment Reform to mention a few.  While we did not all agree on the subject matter and changes pending, we always agreed to be honest and work together in good faith.  Unfortunately, Dan Mehan and the State Chamber of Commerce are not playing by those same rules, and it’s just not right!  Maybe the State Chamber of Commerce should begin scripting what we say, what bills we hear and how we vote.  Obviously our doing what we feel is right is simply not satisfactory.  I leave it for you to decide.

Thank you.