In going through wire service things seen something that set me back a bit when I read the article. The initiative to allow privatization of work comp will make it to the ballot and in addition the Governor has started a process of some negotiated reform.

This is a gut check thing. In my job my employer was large enough to be self insured, no bitches really. Other small business though are getting ate up by the high cost of the state run program. The purpose of the initiative as I get is to allow for L&I to be sold to employers with the same benefits but lower cost.

Somehow this seems to be a contradiction in terms as lower cost = lower benefits in most things. I know rates are sky high with the small businesses I worked with but what drives this thing? My employers L&I cost were about 5% of state L&I and that was with the cost of the safety program.

After dealing with health insurance I can just see what private L&I would be. The cost? Why are L&I rates so high? Same job comparison, my employer 20+ cents hour, state L&I over $4 and hour. What drives this? Bad employers? Bad management?

Not a huge fan of government but it has a place and the laws to protect workers health and welfare are important and we are to trust contracting them out so to speak?

What am I missing here?