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Phil Berger (politician)

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Phil Berger
President pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 26, 2011
Preceded byMarc Basnight
Minority Leader of the North Carolina Senate
In office
January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2011
Preceded byPatrick J. Ballantine
Succeeded byMartin Nesbitt
Member of the North Carolina Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2001
Preceded byDon W. East
Constituency12th district (2001–2003)
26th district (2003–2019, 2023–present)
30th district (2019–2023)
Personal details
Born
Philip Edward Berger

(1952-08-08) August 8, 1952 (age 72)
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpousePatricia Hays
Children3, including Phil Jr.
EducationDanville Community College
Averett University (BA)
Wake Forest University (JD)
Websitehttps://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/64

Philip Edward Berger (born August 8, 1952) is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's thirtieth Senate district, which includes Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, and Surry counties.[1]

Born in New York, Berger was first elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2000. He became minority leader in 2004, and in 2010, he was selected by his fellow Republicans as their choice for the next Senate President Pro Tem.[1][2] Berger was officially elected president Pro Tem when the legislature opened on January 26, 2011.[3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Berger was born in New Rochelle, New York. He graduated from George Washington High School in Danville, Virginia, in 1970 and studied briefly at Danville Community College. Berger earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Averett College[4] in 1980 and a J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law[4] in 1982, after which he entered law practice.

North Carolina Senate

[edit]

Berger was first elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2000. He was Senate Minority Leader from 2005 to 2011. In 2011, he became Senate President pro tempore.

Voting rights

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In 2016, Berger supported voter ID legislation. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals deemed the laws to "target African Americans with almost surgical precision[5] in an opinion written by Diana Motz, an appointee of President Bill Clinton. Berger criticized the ruling as a "decision by three partisan Democrats."[6] Democratic Presidents appointed the three judges working on the case; however, only two have been directly associated with the Democratic party.

In 2017, the Supreme Court chose not to take up the case, allowing the lower court's decision to stand.[7]

In 2018, a referendum for a Constitutional amendment was approved by a majority of voters.[8] Berger voted to pass legislation that would enroll the amendment later in the year during a lame-duck session.[9]

In 2019, a North Carolina judge offered an opinion that the General Assembly was illegally constituted and unable to make law.[10] However, the Governor enrolled the amendment, which remains a portion of the Constitution. Further court proceedings are underway.[11]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Berger led Republican opposition to North Carolina Board of Elections recommendations to make voting by mail easier.[12]

Stripping powers from incoming Democratic administration

[edit]

After the 2024 elections when Democratic candidates won the races for Governor and Attorney General and Republicans lost their supermajority in the North Carolina legislature, North Carolina Republicans in the legislature passed a sweeping bill to strip the state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general of key powers. The bill also gave the power to appoint members to the state's election board to the state auditor, a position won by a Republican candidate. Governor Roy Cooper criticized the bill as a "power grab". Berger, however, defended the bill, saying it is "all within the rules that we have".[13]

Personal life

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He is married to Patricia Hays;[4] they have three children, Philip Jr., Kevin, and Ashley, as well as four grandchildren.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Senator Phil Berger (Republican, 2009-2010 Session)". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  2. ^ News & Observer: Phil Berger picked by GOP for top NC Senate job Archived November 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "WRAL.com/Associated Press: GOP-led legislature begins with budget, maps ahead". Wral.com. January 26, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Board of Visitors - Directory". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  5. ^ Court document electionlawblog.org
  6. ^ "US 4th Circuit overturns NC voter ID law | News & Observer". Archived from the original on July 30, 2016.
  7. ^ Liptak, Adam; Wines, Michael (May 15, 2017). "Strict North Carolina Voter ID Law Thwarted After Supreme Court Rejects Case". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "NC voters approve 4 constitutional amendments, including Voter ID". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "NC lame duck session begins, with voter ID the chief task".
  10. ^ "North Carolina voter ID law struck down".
  11. ^ "NC GOP appeals decision tossing mandatory voter ID amendment". February 26, 2019.
  12. ^ Harrison, Steve (April 2020). "Top NC Republican Dismisses Ideas To Make Mail Voting Easier". www.wunc.org. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "North Carolina GOP lawmakers vote to strip incoming Democratic leaders' powers". NBC News. November 21, 2024.
[edit]
  1. Gordon, Michael; Price, Mark S. (March 26, 2016). "Understanding HB2: North Carolina's newest law solidifies state's role in defining discrimination". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  2. Jeff Tiberii (April 1, 2016). "Sifting Through The Facts On House Bill 2". wunc.org. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  3. Red Ventures reconsiders job growth at Charlotte office after HB 2 bizjournals.com April 2016
  4. "New York, four cities ban government travel to NC over LGBT law". Raleigh News & Observer. March 29, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  5. NCAA basketball tournament newsobserver.com
  6. Market press release highpointmarket.org
  7. Market economic impact analysis duke.edu
North Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 12th district
2001–2003
Served alongside: Virginia Foxx 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 26th district
2003–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 30th district
2019–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 26th district
2023–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minority Leader of the North Carolina Senate
2005–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate
2011–present 		Incumbent
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