Crowell seeks compromise on work comp bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A four-hour filibuster in the Senate over proposed changes to workers compensation laws ended Wednesday night when senators choose to delay a vote while a compromise is sought. In a debate pitting Republicans against members of their own party, Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, opposed a portion of the bill that would remove toxic exposure claims from the workers compensation system and instead make them subject to negligence suits in court. Supporters said that moving the claims to court would put more legal pressure on negligent employers to fix their practices, but it would also raise the burden of proof on workers filing claims and make it more difficult for them to collect damages, argued critics. Crowell eventually proposed a compromise where toxic exposure claims could be left in the workers comp system, but also raise the cap on how much companies have to pay out in such cases, putting pressure on negligent companies to alter dangerous practices. Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, agreed to hold off on a vote while the senators pursue the compromise