Date: 5/26/2007
Lexington, S.C. – May 26, 2007 – State House District 87 Representative Nikki Haley has been appointed by House Speaker Bobby Harrell to serve on the Conference Committee tasked with negotiating one of the state’s most pressing economic development issues – workers’ compensation reform. In accepting the Speaker’s appointment, Rep. Haley said that passage of a strong, pro-business workers’ compensation law this year was “especially critical to economic development in a state where small businesses account for 95% of all jobs.”

“Small business owners and employees have been rocked by the recent spike in insurance premiums, which has slowed our state’s job growth at a time when we should be doing everything we can to speed it up,” Rep. Haley said. “I can’t think of anything that’s more critical to improving the health and economic well-being of South Carolina’s primary job creation engine than a solidly pro-business workers’ compensation bill.”

Haley, who also serves as a Majority Whip in the S.C. House of Representatives, earned the key committee assignment in her first year serving on the House Labor, Commerce and Industry (LCI) Committee.

“Nikki’s hard work, expertise and commitment to real reform have been evident at every step of this process,” said House Speaker Bobby Harrell. “Aside from her command of the legislation, she’s also a small business owner who knows firsthand how important it is that we see a competitive workers’ comp bill emerge from this committee.”

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