Five Things You Need to Know: 2/16, Thursday Edition

1) AIF Task Force Looks to Reform Workers’ Comp in the Sunshine State (NEWS)

While a task force promises to help save Florida's workers' compensation woes, some experts say the heroic efforts may not be enough — or rather — come in enough time. Since Tom Feeney, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), announced Tuesday that a strategic task force, made up of esteemed members of Florida's business community, are taking their findings to the State House, many are wondering if it will work. To read more, click here.

2) WI State Budget Seeks to Eliminate Review Board (NEWS)

On February 8 of this year, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker submitted Assembly Bill 64, which is the “Executive Budget Bill.” According the Bill’s introduction, it “contains the governor's recommendations for appropriations for the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium.” Comprising 989 pages, the Bill spells out the spending changes proposed by the governor. This year’s budget contained a surprise in that Governor Walker proposed the elimination of the state’s Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC). To read more, click here.

3) The Potently Palliative Power of Poop (FROM BOB'S CLUTTERED DESK)  

I must be honest with you. I did not write most of this “feces as medicine” post. Instead, it was penned by a friend and fellow blogger, who ultimately came to realize that he, due to his high station, relative sobriety and stellar reputation in life, could not give justice to the topic at hand. He found himself “pulling punches” that just needed to be freed in order to take advantage of both the informational and entertainment value the story has to offer. Therefore, he desired to find someone who had already tarnished their reputation beyond repair, and would therefore have no qualms about adding childish and infantile potty humor to the work. So, while the majority of the content was written by my friend, the inserted bull-babbage is very much my own contribution. I am proud to take that banner and ascend the throne. To read more, click here.  

4) SD Supreme Court: Widow's Wrongful Death Lawsuit Heard This Week (NEWS)

South Dakota Correctional Officer Ronald "RJ" Johnson was murdered almost six years ago during a failed escape attempt involving two inmates at the State Penitentiary, writes Jill Johnson of KDLT News. His wife's appeal of a wrongful death lawsuit was heard this week in state Supreme Court, and the decision will be made at a later time. Lynette Johnson’s attorney, Don McCarty said, “We’re alleging that the Department of Corrections and specifically (Former State Penitentiary Warden) Doug Weber, contributed to the death of Ron Johnson and that after he was murdered, he acted affirmatively to hide that and cover it up and misrepresent what happened," according to the article. Johnson's wife has been receiving workers' compensation benefits, in which the defense states "...she is excluded from any other rights or remedies."  

5) NJ Company Fined $3.2 Million for Underpaying Immigrant Workers (NEWS)

The City of New York has fined KS Contracting Corp. to the tune of $3.2 million and barred the New Jersey-based company from bidding on state/city projects, writes Kim Slowey of Construction Dive. KS Contracting Corp. underpaid immigrant workers. "Comptroller Scott Stringer said the contractor underpaid workers by $1.2 million on prevailing wage projects, reporting that they were earning $50 an hour when they were really earning only $90 a day," according to the article. "Stringer alleged that the company would write checks to workers and then make them return the cash for disbursement among other employees, including those being paid under the table."  

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