Mo.’s Gov. Blunt Tabs Insurance Lawyer to Chair Labor and Industrial Relations Commission

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has named an insurance defense attorney as chairman of the state Labor and Industrial Relations Commission.

As chairman, Bill Ringer, 56, will represent the public’s interest on appeals of workers’ compensation cases, unemployment benefits and crime victims’ compensation cases. His appointment must be confirmed by the Senate.

The other two members of the commission are charged with representing the interests of employers or employees. Ringer works at the Kansas City office of Evans and Dixon, which primarily defends businesses and insurers in workers’ compensation cases. He also served on the commission in the employer position from 1982-1986 as an appointee of Republican Gov. Kit Bond.

Ringer said he has represented injured employees in only a few cases, which Blunt cited while defending him as an appropriate appointee to the neutral position.

“I’m convinced of his integrity and his understanding that he needs to be a representative of the public and not either side,” the Republican governor said.

But labor representatives were skeptical.

“Evans and Dixon is the largest employer workers’ comp firm in the state of Missouri,” said Ken Jacob, executive director of the Missouri and Kansas chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Blunt “is basically promoting bias … now you have two employers’ and one employees’ judge.”

While campaigning for governor, Blunt criticized Democratic Gov. Bob Holden’s appointment of Jacob — then a Democratic senator from Columbia — to the panel’s chairmanship. Blunt contended Jacob wasn’t suited for the neutral position because he was a staunch union supporter. Blunt also criticized the bump Jacob automatically received in his state pension by holding the post.

Topics Workers' Compensation Missouri

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