Four hours of discussion later and Missouri Senators compromise on an amendment to the workers' compensation plan

See Related Stories

3/14/2011: Radio Story - Business interest witnesses spoke out against bill that would let employees choose a doctor under workers' comp.

3/14/2011: Newspaper Story - Workers' compensation recipients could choose their own medical provider after on-the-job injuries.

2/ 8/2011: Radio Story - The Missouri House of Representatives approves one amendment to workers compensation bill while another amendment fails to garner enough support.

Intro:	Missouri Senate approves an amendment to the workers' compensation plan.
RunTime:	0:37
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Missouri Senators vote to allow Missourians to keep workers' compensation benefits even after they sue third parties.

This bill allows Missourians who suffered injuries from toxic exposure in the workplace to keep all of their workers' compensation money.

The amendment's sponsor, Cape Girardeau Republican Senator Jason Crowell says he is trying to compromise on this bill before it gets to the governor.

Actuality:	CROWELL3.WAV
Run Time:	00:06
Description: "I'm not going to vote to override the Governor if he vetoes, I'm going to give him silent applause and say rock on."

The bill, along with Cowell's amendment, will ge a final vote as early as Thursday.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Andrew Weil.

Intro:	Four hours of discussion from Missouri senators led to compromise on the workers' compensation bill.
RunTime:	0:46
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The Senate gave first-round approval to the bill.

That's after it approved an amendment, that means working Missourians will no longer need to return workers' compensation benefits to employers if they sue third parties.

Cape Girardeau Republican Senator Jason Crowell says it only covers Missourians who have a disease caused by toxic exposure in the workplace.

Actuality:	CROWELL2.WAV
Run Time:	00:11
Description: "I wanna within the workers' compensation system narrow this gap between what it costs to just pay for your employees in work comp what it costs to provide a safer work environment."

Crowell and the bill's Republican sponsor spent more than an hour compromising on the amendment with hardly anyone else in the chamber.

The final vote on the bill will happen as early as Thursday.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Andrew Weil.

Intro:	Missouri Senate approves an amendment that one Republican says will fix a gross injustice.
RunTime:	0:46
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: With this amendment, working Missourians will no longer have to return their workers' compensation benefits to employers if they choose to sue third parties.

Cape Girardeau Republican Senator Jason Crowell is the sponsor of the amendment.

He says it shouldn't be cheaper for employers to pay workers' compensation instead of providing a safe work environment.

Farmington Republican Senator Kevin Engler urged his fellow lawmakers to support the amendment.

He says companies should still have to pay when an employee is injured or harmed.

Actuality:	ENGLER2.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: "Some of the freshmen they may not have a lot of opportunity to right an injustice and they do on this vote so I'm with you, I think it's a good compromise and I appreciate it."

The final vote on the bill will happen as early as Thursday.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Andrew Weil.