113th Congress: Paul Cook, R-Calif. (8th District)

By Elham Khatami, CQ Staff

Committed to conservative fiscal policies, Paul Cook believes in tackling high taxes and government corruption. Cook’s extensive experience in state and local government has prepared him to be an advocate of his district’s most important issues.

“I’ll continue my work to support economic policies designed to help create jobs and restore our economy. It’s time we reform our regulatory environment and put people back to work,” he said during the campaign.

Cook believes in simplifying the tax code, encouraging investment, developing new domestic energy resources and eliminating wasteful spending. His committee assignments in the assembly gave him multiple opportunities to address inefficiency and provide oversight on the state level.

As a retired Marine Corps colonel — during his 26 years of service he earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star — Cook is a longtime defender of veterans and military families. He chaired the Veterans Affairs Committee in the California Legislature.

“Military and veterans seem to be a low priority with this administration, but I won’t let Washington replicate the past, where they forgot about veterans returning from Vietnam,” he said in a campaign statement.

His conservatism extends to social issues as well: Cook is anti-abortion and has said he will fight any effort to restrict gun-owners’ rights.