| Gary Marble, president of Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM), was the only business organization representative to offer testimony at hearings of the House Interim Committee on the Second Injury Fund held last week in Jefferson City. The special committee was formed in order to study the fund that is used to pay already impaired workers who suffer additional on-the-job injuries.
The Second Injury Fund will become insolvent within the next 12 to 18 months if changes are not made to Missouri Statutes by the General Assembly, according to Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee and an actuarial compiled by the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“This has reached crisis proportions and real long-term solutions need to be found. This isn’t something that can be fixed with a band-aid,” said Marble, former House of Representatives member who has continued to be active in the state's effort to find a solution to this growing problem.
In his testimony on Wednesday, Marble said that he was especially disturbed by the inaction of Missouri’s attorney general. He provided the committee with a letter sent to Jay Nixon on Sept. 25, 2007, asking the following questions:
- Who is liable for payments derived from settlements and decisions once the impending insolvency of the Second Injury Fund is reached?
- Does the State Treasurer have the authority to pay out of a fund if said fund des not have a sufficient balance to meet the obligation?
- Is it the responsibility of the Attorney General who defends the fun, or the State Treasurer who makes payments from the fund to decide who will and will not receive compensation from a soon depleted fund since no provision exists within state law for continuing payments from another source?
“I wanted the committee to be aware of this letter and to also be aware of the fact that I have yet to receive an answer to my inquiry,” Marble said.
Rep. Steve Hunter, chairman of the special committee on workforce development and workplace safety, assured the Attorney General’s office that he would put an identical version of the letter onto his official stationary to be sent to their offices immediately and would expect a prompt reply. His remarks were in response to a statement from the attorney general's office that it was only obligated to answer questions when asked by a member of the General Assembly, elected officials, or other designated parties.
“These are important questions that need to be answered,” Hunter said. “The situation that is being faced is at a crisis proportion and this is no time for party politics or posturing by state officials. The businesses and the workers of this state deserve answers.” Go Back | 
