01/18/05 Democrats targe retro safety refunds

Washington Ag January 18, 2005 Democratic lawmakers in Olympia are pushing legislation that would limit to ten percent the amount of workers compensation premium refunds that can be kept by operators of state authorized retro safety programs, which improve workplace safety. The largest pool to share insurance risk of workers comp is run by the Building Industry Association of Washington. The second largest is run by the Washington State Farm Bureau. Both groups keep 20 percent of premium refunds they earn for their members. Farm Bureau spokesman Dean Boyer says if the proposal were enacted; Boyer: "This would severely limit our program and what we can do to improve safety on the farm." Boyer says members in retro programs join voluntarily, knowing how much of the refund will be retained to administer the program. Boyer: "We believe this is a matter of free choice and that the legislature should not interfere with what is essentially a contract between the retro program and its members." Boyer says the Democrats are apparently going after the Building Industry Association because of its political activities trying to get Dino Rossi and other Republicans elected. The legislation's chief sponsor, Representative Bill Fromhold of Vancouver, denies any political motivation. I'm Bob Hoff.