Posted On: November 29, 2004, 2:54 pm CST

Posted By: bob

The problem would be best addressed if those pursuing it would themselves try to buy it ( Worker's Comp )as if they were a contractor trying to buy it. As soon as they realized what was actually happening, reform would occur.
The current system is exclusionary and penalizes unjustly the new and/or small contractor. The solution to the problem is to have worker's comp be assessed against the permit fee and charged for at the time the permit is obtained. In this way everyone would be covered and the real cost of the worker's comp would be assessed accurately against the cost of construction and the buyers of construction products ( homebuyers, building owners ) would be included in the cost calculation. The side benefit would be that work would need to be permitted and the public would not be able to support the huge unerground construction economy that currently exists.
Until this happens, there is no opportunity to bring into the calculation all of the participants in the process and the cost/benefit will be askew.
For those that don't see this, Do you really want to pay $150 a sq. ft. for a new house ( plus land ) ? That's about what it would cost if everyone in the construction industry were properly covered under the current cost system.