| Author | Subject: Tarzan Contributes Million More to SAIF |
| Tarzan | Posted At 21:59:54 01/23/2001
My Newsletters » Emailed scores, news and info you want! This didn't come out very good, but it was in the Oregonian on Tuesday, 23rd. They have been saving so much money stealing from the poor and broken down, they can't figure out how to spend it. Our Advertisers How to Advertise About Us Job Opportunities User Guide Contact Us User Agreement Privacy Policy © 2001 Oregon Live All rights reserved Lobbyist views future Saif income as a budget buffer Opponents say tapping the workers' comp money for a rainy-day fund would be illegal Tuesday, January 23, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Lisa Grace Lednicer of The Oregonian staff SALEM -- A prominent Salem lobbyist is quietly trying to assemble a coalition of businesses and unions to persuade lawmakers to tap into the state workers' compensation fund to shore up the state's budget. Oregon Politics The latest news on political issues around Oregon. Paul Phillips, who represents the Oregon Business Association, said the Legislature should use the interest from a portion of Saif Corp.'s $2.5 billion accident insurance fund to create a "rainy-day" account that lawmakers could draw from in economic hard times. He said workers' compensation claims would be protected because the fund's principal would remain intact. But despite a tight budget, Republican lawmakers do not appear eager to tinker with the fund that compensates injured workers, a move that backfired once before. The Legislature took money from the fund in 1982, but the courts reversed that decision, and the state was required to repay $225 million, almost triple the original amount, to policyholders. The proposal angered Katherine Keene, president and chief executive officer of Saif, the corporation that administers the fund with a board appointed by the governor. "The proposal is a Trojan horse," Keene said. "It is simply another attempt to raid the resources of the fund under the guise of good public policy. When people realize what this is, it will die on its own accord." But Phillips said his plan is different from what lawmakers did in 1982 because he proposes that the Legislature tap future revenues instead of existing ones. He would use excess income generated by Saif's industrial accident fund, which he estimates at $100 million a year, to seed the rainy-day account. And the state's estimated budget shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars -- which has the Legislature considering cutting programs ranging from services for the elderly to state police -- shows that it's crucial for lawmakers to be able to direct money from a surplus fund in times such as these, Phillips said. "As a former legislator, I know that it's easier to do things in times in crisis than in times of plenty," said Phillips, who served in the House and Senate from 1983 to 1995. "In these times, it's easier to get people focusing on putting the partisanship aside and figuring out the best way to do things." Phillips' idea has generated strong support from Liberty Northwest, Saif's chief competitor and a member of the Oregon Business Association. Fred VanNatta, a Liberty lobbyist, said Saif has paid dividends "way, way above" other workers' compensation insurers and has forced private insurers out of the market. He said the fund has accumulated such a large surplus over the years that some of the money could be diverted toward a rainy-day fund without endangering workers' claims. But Keene said two outside studies Saif commissioned show that the corporation's $400 million surplus is too little as a hedge against the increasing cost of health care and prescription drugs. And even though the Legislature would tap future revenues, that still would mean less money for the fund to pay out in claims, she said. Lawmakers have greeted the idea cautiously. Many remember the ill-fated decision by the 1982 Legislature, which met in special session, to use $81 million from the fund to balance the budget during a recession. Lawmakers acted on advice from then-Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer, who said the transfer was legal. But the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature had breached a contract between the state and the insured employers and that the state would have to repay the fund $225 million in principal and interest. The final installment was made during the 1999 legislative session. Senate President Gene Derfler, R-Salem, said he doesn't want to approve a plan that would cause Saif to increase premiums to make up for the loss in revenues. He said he wants to make sure Saif agrees with the proposal before sending it to a committee for a hearing. Phillips is drafting a bill that he said should be ready this week. Phillips said the Oregon Restaurant Association and the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades union have endorsed the idea. He hopes to get additional support from the Portland-based Oregon Business Council and the Portland Chamber of Commerce. One prominent group unlikely to support the idea is Associated Oregon Industries, the state's largest business group. Many of its members use the fund, and Lisa Trussell, an AOI lobbyist, said the fund's excess income should be returned to the policyholders who contributed to it. Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, who has been in the Senate since 1974, voted against dipping into the fund in 1982 and says Phillips' idea is just as ill-advised. "Been there, done that," Hannon said. "It was thievery in 1981, and it's thievery in 2001." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can reach Lisa Grace Lednicer at 503-221-8234 or by e-mail at lisalednicer@news.oregonian.com. » Top » Print this page » Send to a friend To subscribe to The Oregonian, click here Copyright 2001 Oregon Live. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. TODAY'S HEADLINES Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 » City keeps lively pulse » Portland's 150th Birthday: Calendar of events » Portland's 150th Birthday: Resources » Lobbyist views future Saif income as a budget buffer » Fish agency stuck in a quagmire of conflicting demands » Protection One agrees to pay state $125,000 » Portland homeless camp readies for next move » Citizen review of police gains momentum with council » Protesters close down school board meeting » Ecstasy's lure masks danger » Couple will testify in cattle fraud case » Wildlife commission may delay decision on Sandy fish » Oregon calls on CDC to assess depot's public safety » Legislators tackle education budget » School Briefs: State has some teacher shortages » Capitol Roundup: Bill would limit broadcast of 9-1-1 calls » Briefs: Salem man faces charges in infant girl's death » Briefs: Landlord sued by family of boy killed in house fire » Briefs: Accused rapist met victims through Internet » Holding fast to tradition for Lunar New Year » Tackling Type II diabetes risks among Latinos » Heirs selling 7,000 used, loved golf balls » Fort Lewis remodeling aims for new, homier look » Corrections » Oregonian Top Headlines » Metro, Suburban + Community news » Week in Review » Month in Review MORE STORIES LOCAL NEWS » News » Sports » Business » Obituaries » Features » Opinion News, links, more! 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