Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• ‘Good news’ for business, Gregoire says

  December 2, 2011 in Business on Page A12 OLYMPIA – Most Washington businesses will see lower unemployment taxes and many will have no increase in their workers’ compensation rates in 2012. In announcing the new rates for next … 1

• Workers’ comp gets an overhaul

  May 23, 2011 in City on Page A6 OLYMPIA – An agreement on offering settlements to injured workers could remove one of the main obstacles to the Legislature passing a budget for the next two years. Gov. Chris …

• Workers’ comp deal reported near to break legislative logjam

  May 22, 2011 in City on Page B7 OLYMPIA – Legislators may reach a deal sometime today on one of the key stumbling blocks to passing a budget and adjourning, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire said Saturday …

• Legislature grinds toward compromise

  May 21, 2011 in City OLYMPIA – Legislators may reach a deal sometime Sunday on one of the key stumbling blocks to passing a budget and adjourning, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire said this …

• Gregoire signs transportation budget

  May 17, 2011 in City on Page A6 OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the state’s 2011-’13 transportation budget Monday and issued a warning to the Legislature to hurry up on other spending plans for the next biennium …

• Workers’ comp becoming a yellow brick road-block

  May 15, 2011 in City on Page B2 OLYMPIA – May might be the cruelest month in the state capital. The rain gives way only sporadically to sun breaks, momentarily lifting the gray gloom that shrouds the dome … 2

• Editorial: Adding choice best for workers, companies

  April 14, 2011 in Opinion on Page A13 Along with the stress and anxiety Washington’s lawmakers are feeling as they balance the state budget for the next two years, at least some must harbor a regret or two …

• Workers’ comp reform goes to House

  March 6, 2011 in City on Page B3 OLYMPIA – The state Senate approved a measure Saturday that would drastically change Washington’s workers’ compensation system by establishing an option for lump-sum settlements. The 34-15 vote in the Senate …

• Editorial: Gregoire’s workers’ comp plan is good start

  March 4, 2011 in Opinion on Page A13 After 15 years of sharply escalating workers’ compensation costs, Washington state urgently needs to adopt corrective measures. Unfortunately, voters turned down the most direct reform in November when they defeated … 1

• Caldwell: Governor’s work plan needs quick approval

  January 9, 2011 in Business on Page E1 While legislators find their seats, Gov. Chris Gregoire remained center stage last week in Olympia, announcing proposals that would restructure education oversight, alter ferry system management, and amend the state’s … 2

• Bills would save state’s businesses millions

  January 5, 2011 in City on Page A1 Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday said she will ask Washington lawmakers to approve bills that would save businesses and employees $300 million this year and more than $1 billion over … 10

• Wash. proposes 12 percent workers’ comp rate hike

  November 8, 2010 in Region The state Department of Labor and Industries says workers’ compensation rates are going up an average of 12 percent next year, or about 6.5 cents per hour worked. 21

• Ads put state official in middle of I-1082 fight

  October 27, 2010 in City on Page A5 As if Initiative 1082 weren’t confusing enough, television commercials for the opposing sides now feature the same person: State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. Kreidler is against the proposal, as he … 3

• Rally to bring out labor voters focuses on I-1082, Boeing bid

  October 7, 2010 in City on Page A7 An initiative that would privatize Washington’s workers’ compensation system is one of the key issues that will bring the state’s union members to the polls, labor leaders said at a … 2

• Caldwell: L&I silence on premiums seems to be political ploy

  September 26, 2010 in Business on Page E1 The Washington Department of Labor & Industries has delayed release of 2011 workers’ compensation premium adjustments until November, after an election that includes a proposal that would drastically change the … 3

• Man mauled after smoking pot can get workers comp

  June 4, 2010 in Region A worker who was mauled feeding the bears at a tourist attraction near Glacier National Park is eligible for workers’ compensation even though he smoked marijuana that morning, a judge … 15

• Editorial: Insurance reform would give options to workers

  January 6, 2010 in Opinion on Page A11 Washington state’s industrial insurance program is notoriously unconventional. This is one of only four states where private insurance carriers can’t compete for workers’ compensation business. Only in Washington is the …