By Adam Studzinski

SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) is co-sponsoring a series of bills aimed at changing how business is done in Illinois.

Barickman said the pieces of legislation are the result of weeks of negotiations over several of the state’s biggest problems, such as worker’s comp.

“One of the problems of worker’s comp today is that anyone who might be even remotely hurt by their job qualifies for the system,” said Barickman. “With so many people qualifying for it, it causes the insurance rates – the premiums paid by employers – to be dramatically higher than they are in other states; particularly, the states that are our neighbors.”

Podacast: Barickman spoke with WJBC.

Barickman said he wants to change the system so people would have to show their injury was caused by their employment.

Another piece of the reforms would take aim at property taxes.

“We want to freeze property taxes, but you can’t just do that without potentially crippling units of local government like your schools,” said Barickman. “And so coupled with our property tax freeze is changes to the collective bargaining rights and prevailing wage requirements.”

Barickman also wants to redraw the legislative maps and enact term limits. The hardest part, according to Barickman, is going to be getting the Democrats, who control both the Illinois House and Senate, to vote in favor of the bills.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].