DURANT — Hello again, everybody! Blind devotion by elected officials to either political party creates an environment where good ideas can die and bad ideas can advance.

Neither the Democratic nor Republican parties has a monopoly on good ideas — or, sadly, bad ideas. Either party can get issues right, and either party can propose terrible policies.

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee, by a razor-thin margin, approved one of those terrible policies. It is a bill that would result in the state selling CompSource Oklahoma, the workers’ compensation insurance on which thousands of businesses depend.

CompSource was created by the state almost 80 years ago to provide workers’ compensation insurance. It was needed because many Oklahoma businesses could not afford workers’ compensation insurance from private carriers. That remains the case today.

The vote to sell the insurer was right down party lines. Republicans inexplicably casting anti-business “yes” votes and Democrats voting “no.”

As I told the members of the committee during debate, I have heard from many business owners in my district, a good number of which are Republicans. Every one that contacted me is very concerned about this bill and believes it would be bad for business, especially with Oklahoma businesses struggling with a sluggish economy.

To put workers’ compensation costs in perspective, every dollar a business spends on workers’ compensation premiums is a dollar drained from the economy. It is money that cannot be used to hire employees, give raises or expand operations.

Over the years, we have invested a lot of time and energy trying to keep workers’ compensation premiums as low as possible for Oklahoma businesses. I have supported and proposed initiatives to reform workers’ compensation, balancing the need for low premiums with the need to make whole those workers who truly are hurt.

Any bill that, by definition, would increase workers’ compensation premiums gets my attention, because it would chill efforts to grow our economy. And, that is exactly what will happen if the state sells CompSource to a private insurer.

This is one of the worst job-killing and business-killing ideas ever to come before the Legislature. The State Chamber of Commerce, which normally sides with Republicans, expressed its strong opposition because its member businesses know what will be on the horizon should the measure become law: higher workers’ compensation premiums.

Throughout my career in the Senate, I have fought hard to bring new jobs to our state and area. As we work to drag ourselves out of the national recession, increasing workers’ compensation premiums for thousands of businesses is the wrong step.

I never have had a problem breaking with my party if I believed its policies were wrong for Oklahoma or bad for the economy. Oklahomans are far better served when elected officials remember they should stand for what is right rather than blind loyalty to either political party.

Thanks again for reading this week’s “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.