Raleigh, N.C. — Sen. Phil Berger, the president pro tempore of the state Senate, has been appointed chairman of the 2013 Executive Committee for the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, a group that supports GOP campaigns for state legislatures.

"The RLCC is a critical component to winning state legislative races - they have the team and elected leaders in place to help grow Republican control of state legislative chambers beyond 58 in the 2014 cycle," Berger said in a news release.

According to a news release, "The RLCC focuses on increasing the number of Republican-held state legislative chambers across the country by targeting national resources on key legislative races."

In North Carolina, Republicans took super majorities in both the state House and state Senate. The RLCC's most notable action here during the 2012 election was bankrolling groups that supported Paul Newby, a state Supreme Court justice. Many Republicans see the partisan balance of the court as critical in defending legislative district maps drawn by the GOP.