Rep. Joe Dorman, Democratic nominee for Governor, blasted Mary Fallin for hampering access to medical treatment for Oklahomans injured on the job with the closing of the Workers Compensation Court for the rest of July, as well as the layoffs last week of sixteen employees at the Commission.
"It is outrageous for Mary Fallin to block access to much needed care and due process for Oklahoma workers injured on the job. This is yet another casualty of Fallin's "let them eat cake' mentality that completely disregards the needs of working Oklahomans. The Court was already struggling to handle its caseload, and canceling all cases scheduled for hearing before the Court for the rest of the month, along with the layoffs, only makes things worse."
Dorman said these problems are a result of Fallin's gutting of the Workers Compensation Court last year, and her attitude that businesses can do whatever they want at Oklahoma workers' expense.
"Her "reforms' have simply given her absolute control of the Commission and taken it out of the hands of judges. We need an expeditious and unbiased workers compensation system, rather than a Commission that pursues the agenda of the Chamber of Commerce."
Dorman said he requested receipts to verify reports that the Commission recently ordered new furniture for thousands of dollars and delegated to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services the accounting system for the Court, which is an unconstitutional violation of separation of powers. He also called on Fallin's husband, Wade Christensen, to recuse himself from any future workers compensation cases due to a clear conflict of interest.
Dorman promised to fix workers compensation to make it fair to injured workers, and to enact policies that consider the best interest of all Oklahomans.
"Fallin has demonstrated a complete and utter disregard for workers. I will make the Commission an institution that quickly processes claims and is not skewed against employees. I will represent those Oklahomans whose cries have been ignored by the executive branch these past four years. Whether through providing health care access or providing a living wage, it's time to start listening to the concerns of hardworking Oklahomans living paycheck to paycheck. We can and we must do better."