Onorato Applauds New Workers' Compensation Law
'As the ranking Democratic member of the State Senate Labor

Committee, and as someone who has consistently advocated comprehensive reform in New York's workers' compensation system, it was a pleasure to stand with Governor Eliot Spitzer as he signed new legislation into law to significantly overhaul a system that has long been considered badly broken," state Senator George Onorato (D-Long Island City) said of Governor Eliot Spitzer's decision to sign a major workers' compensation reform bill into law. Onorato supported the legislation, which Spitzer signed into law on March 12 during a press conference at the state capitol in Albany

"This new law will provide the first increases in benefits to injured workers since 1992 and will also help to reduce costs for businesses whose economic competitiveness has been compromised by high workers' compensation premiums," Onorato added. "In signing this legislation into law, Governor Spitzer has finally accomplished a goal that many of us have shared for a long, long time: that of finding a way to balance the pressing needs of those hurt on the job with the equally important concerns of New York's employers.

"This, obviously, was no simple feat. I commend New York's business community, unions, legislative leaders and other workers' compensation reform advocates for bringing us to this happy day. I am certain that this is just one of the many critical victories that the people of our state will enjoy throughout 2007 and beyond."