N.C. Senate Convenes 2015-2016 Legislative Session | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    Raleigh, N.C.     Senator Bill Cook (R-District 1) and other members of the North Carolina Senate returned to Raleigh Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, to begin their 2015-2016 legislative session. Senator Phil Berger (R-District 26) was re-elected by his colleagues to serve a third term as President Pro Tempore, the chamber's leader. The Senate also re-elected Senator Louis Pate (R- District 7) as Deputy President Pro Tempore, Senator Harry Brown (R-District 6) as Majority Leader and Senator Jerry Tillman (R-District 29) as Majority Whip.

    "I am honored to serve in the N.C. Senate and look forward to doing what is best for North Carolina. Just a few years ago, North Carolina had the highest taxes in the Southeastern United States. We had a $2.5 billion dollar budget deficit and the unemployment rate was over 10 percent. The tax reform that we passed last legislative session has helped to make North Carolina competitive again," Cook said. "We're attracting new jobs instead of losing them to our neighboring states. The unemployment rate has dropped nearly in half. North Carolina businesses have created more than 263,000 new jobs, and the number of working North Carolinians has climbed to historic highs. In addition, we balanced the state budget and kept its growth under control."

    Cook was appointed as Co-Chairman of Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources and Co-Chairman of Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-District 26). In addition, Cook was appointed as a member of the following committees: Commerce, Education/Higher Education, Finance, Judiciary II and Program Evaluation.

    "Bill's leadership will be instrumental in shaping policy to strengthen our state," Berger said. "I applaud his willingness to serve the people of North Carolina in this capacity."

    Cook is entering his second term in the N.C. Senate and third term in the N.C. General Assembly. Previously, he served one term in the N.C. House of Representatives. North Carolina Senate District 1 consists of: Beaufort, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank and Perquimans Counties.
Senator Bill Cook (R-District 1), center, with his wife Holly to his right and constituents of Senate District 1 stand in the Senate Chamber on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, for the opening day of the 2015 legislative session of the N.C. General Assembly in Raleigh, NC. Shown left to right are: Ken Macmillan, Kathy MacMillan, Holly Cook, Senator Cook, Joe Tauber, Lori London and Justin Tillett.

Contact: Jordan Hennessy
     jordan.hennessy@ncleg.net, •  (252) 619-3606


     300 N. Salisbury Street
     Room 525 • Raleigh, NC 27603

    Phone: (919) 715-8293  •  Fax: (919) 754-3296  •  bill.cook@ncleg.netand was built with much of local resources.