HB 6956 - which would have granted unprecedented special workers' compensation benefits to certain employees who contract heart or hypertension, infectious and contagious diseases, or are diagnosed with certain cancers was defeated by CCM...again! Yes, that correct, the same bill (HB 6956) that was proposed in the beginning of the session, amended, died in committee, resurrected by leaders, amended again - finally died on the House calendar on the last day of the regular session.

Working with supporters on both sides of the aisle, CCM was able to prevent a vote on the bill that would have fundamentally changed these presumptions under the workers' compensation act. The bill's proponents worked until the final minutes to push for a vote on a stripped-down version of the bill, which would have only granted the presumption for certain infectious diseases.

Although this would have had broader support if it had been offered earlier in the session, the lateness of the hour gave CCM's allies the opportunity to threaten to turn the bill into a "talker" -- essentially a fillibuster that would have tied up the House chamber for hours on the last day, dooming many other pieces of legislation.

There is no question that CCM and municipalities only won this hard-fought battle because local officials were relentless and unanimous in voicing opposition to this potentially huge mandate. A job well-done to all who contacted their legislators to urge them to reject HB 6956.