Paul Cook (politician)

In 2006, Cook ran for California's 65th Assembly District. Cook won a five candidate Republican primary field with 29% of the vote.[6] In the general election, Cook defeated Democrat Rita Ramirez-Dean 60%–37%.[7] In 2008, he won re-election to a second term, defeating Democrat Carl Wood 53%–47%.[8][9] In 2010, he won re-election to a third term, defeating Wood again 58%–42%.[10]

The 65th district included the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Big Bear Lake, Calimesa, Cherry Valley, Hemet, Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto, Sun City, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley and other smaller communities and unincorporated areas in Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Inyo County and Mono County.

The California Chamber of Commerce and the California Taxpayers Association gave Cook a perfect 100% rating, 2007–2011.[11] In 2010, Democratic Speaker of the Assembly John Pérez appointed Cook to chair the Veterans Affairs Committee, the first time a Democratic speaker had appointed a Republican to chair a committee since 2002.[12]

• Accountability and Administrative Review Committee
• Budget Committee
• Emergency Management Committee
• Governmental Organization Committee
• Higher Education Committee
• Inland Empire Transportation Issues Committee
• Master Plan for Higher Education
• Preservation of California's Entertainment Industry Committee
• Sunset Review Committee
• Veterans Affairs Committee (Chair)[13]
• Judiciary Committee

In January 2012, 34-year incumbent Jerry Lewis announced he would not seek re-election in November. Cook entered the primary for the district, which had been renumbered from the 41st to the 8th in redistricting. He finished second in the 13-candidate all-party open primary. He earned 15% of the vote. Fellow Republican and conservative activist Gregg Imus ranked first with 16% of the vote.[14] Cook was endorsed by the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) past presidents, the San Bernardino Sun, National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition, the County Farm Bureau, state Assemblyman Steve Knight, state Senator Sharon Runner, and U.S. Congressman Ed Royce.[15] In the November election, Cook defeated Imus 58%–42%.[16]

In 2013, Cook co-signed a letter to then-president Barack Obama, urging him to finalize the Keystone XL pipeline, stating that it was about "jobs, jobs jobs." He also expressed fear that China "is ready to take advantage of America's missteps with the Keystone pipeline."[17]

Early in 2017, Cook voted in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act. His reason for voting for the repeal was to ensure that "every American has access to quality care to fit their budget."[18] In August 2017, he voted in favor of outlawing late term abortions, unless the woman was a victim of rape or incest or that her life was threatened.[19]

Cook voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[20] By voting for the bill, Cook says that the bill will "deliver crucial tax relief for middle-class and low-income Americans." He voted for this bill because more than 90 percent of taxpaying constituents will receive a tax break. He also supports it because it simplifies the tax code.[21]

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
• Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia
  • Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

• Congressional Cement Caucus
• House Baltic Caucus[22]
• Republican Main Street Partnership[23]
• Congressional Western Caucus[24]