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) [1] 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:
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
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.