More Reactions to Workers' Comp Increase

In my column in the Herald of Everett, I speculate that the proposed 7.6 percent increase in workers' compensation premiums may spur interest in a "private option."

Some groups may also look to inject some choice and competition into our system. Market forces successfully drive innovation in states that have shed the public monopoly.

Read the column for examples. In Olympia Business Watch, Kris Tefft also comments on the proposed rate increase here and here. The new blog, The Hammer, comments here.

Tracy Warner's column in the Wenatchee World sums it up nicely:

...basic economics tells you if you want more of something, jobs in this case, do not tax it. Raise the cost of something and people will buy less, jobs in this case. The state is about to raise the price of employment by $120 million statewide. This is not good.

Right.