Illinois finally has an opportunity to approve meaningful workers' compensation reforms and that's prompted the CEO of Caterpillar to call on his fellow business leaders to put pressure on their local legislators.

Quoted in a story in Crain's Chicago Business, Doug Oberhelman, head of Peoria-based Caterpillar pointed out that "workman's compensation is being discussed right now, today and tomorrow night." According to the article, Oberhelman indicated workers' compensation rates in Illinois are seven times as high as neighboring Indiana's.

In order to be meaningful, key components of workers' compensation reforms must include requirements that injuries are actually the result of the job and the state should adopt clear medical standards for injuries, Oberhelman told the Tooling and Manufacturing Association in a meeting May 9, in Hoffman Estates.

Those and other reforms were included in major legislation that came before the Senate last month. That measure (SB 1349) failed when most Senate Democrats voted "present" rather than take a stand on the issue.

As a signal to employers of the importance of workers' compensation reform, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno has been personally involved in negotiations. Viewing reforms as critical to improving the state's jobs climate, Sen. Radogno has made it a top priority in discussions with the Governor and other legislative leaders.

Last month, Radogno also urged employers to keep up the pressure for reform and said "I urge job creators to continue to appeal to their state lawmakers and Gov. Quinn to make sure we do not let this opportunity slip away.”