N.C. Rep. Bill Cook has co-sponsored H.B. 709 which will increase taxes and social welfare benefit programs. H.B. 709 is a bailout for insurance companies at the expense of North Carolina workers and taxpayers. Specifically, H.B. 709 seeks to cap workers compensation benefits at 500 weeks even when a worker is injured and cannot return to work.

As a result, a younger worker in this state who is not able to return to work due to their injuries will be forced to depend on Social Security disability which would pay a miniscule amount of money to live; assuming they have worked long enough to even qualify. Because of the small amount from Social Security, the worker will qualify for food stamps in order to feed his/her family.

Medical benefits will also stop, resulting in the worker having to depend on Medicare (from the federal government), and/or Medicaid from the state government to cover the costs of future medical treatment.

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