NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Legislature is considering a bill that would make it more difficult for fired workers to secure claims and simpler for retailers not to pay unemployment benefits, the Tennessean reports. The measure also would allow comment cards and related business documents to be presented as substantial evidence in employee dismissal cases.

This bill is one of several that the state House and Senate are debating this year. "The Tennessee General Assembly has been pro-business in years past," said Jim Brown, Tennessee director of the National Federation of Independent Business. "But, now, it is very pro-business."

However, union leaders see the measures, such as a bill that will make it not as easy for workers to win workers?? compensation claims, as anti-employee. "It??s just another way to get at the working folks," said Eddie Bryan, a Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council lobbyist.

Business advocates counter that they are merely trying to push for changes in law that benefit business growth, which will, in turn, help workers. "This is rooting out the claims that should not be approved," said Brown. "This is keeping money in the pockets of business owners who are eager to expand and hire, and not have to pay frivolous or meritless claims."

Take workers?? compensation for example, Currently, Tennessee and Alabama are the only states with a court-based workers?? compensation procedure, which makes the costs more and unpredictable, business owners say. Insurance for workers?? compensation is much higher than in neighboring states like Virginia and that hurts Tennessee.

"What you pay for workers' comp for two employees ?? you could hire another employee for that," said Susan Goyer, president of Aabakus Inc. "We are not trying to keep workers' comp from workers who are truly injured in employment. It is the abuse of the system and the inconsistencies we're trying to eliminate."