Inland Utopia

Congressional District 45 was already going to become a competitive race in 2010 with the Democratic Party recruiting the mayor of Palm Springs Steve Pougnet to challenge her in the next general election. Now Congresswoman Bono-Mack is facing a potential party primary due to her vote on HR 2454 the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Only 8 spineless Republicans defected to help give the Democratic Party a bipartisan veneer with one of their agenda items for this year. Conservative activists are hoping that Bonnie Garcia or Jim Batlin runs against her next June so we can have a true Republican representing the 45th district.

Bono-Mack does recognize she will have a tough general election, but there are better ways for her to differentiate her self from a traditional Republican than draining working families and increasing their energy costs and hurting the prosperity of the American people. For example Palm Springs region has the 2nd most population of gay Californians in our state and she could of co-sponsored the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in HR 1283, co-sponsored the Uniting American Families Act HR 1024 and co-sponsoring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act HR 2981 instead of killing off the fiscal vitality of our nation.

It is unfortunate that one of the few socially inclusive congress members in the Republican Party may have to go down in defeat in a Republican Primary, but certain issues are not for compromise.

The lack of communication from my congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) is very disappointing. I recently wrote a letter to my congressman about the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell about integrating open gay and lesbian military personnel in our armed forces and after a phone call after a month of not receiving a reply of his position on the bill pro or con, I come to suspect that he is just too cautious like our president.

My congressman lives in a very safe constituency where he could take principled stands without much risk. The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (HR 1283) is one of the rare equality bills that have broad support across demographic lines from conservatives to liberals, church going people to the non church going and over 142 fellow members have already co-sponsored this bill already.

It is disappointing when Congressman Gary Miller who served my community before reapportionment had his office write to me even on the most insignificant of legislation, but Joe Baca’s staff is asleep at the wheel even when its legislation that is traditionally Democratic Party favored.

I hope after the phone call I get a response in the next two weeks, if not I will probably need to write a letter to the editor in our local newspaper so he will get the message. Congressman Baca’s legislative director should have positions on various notable pieces of legislation already written up so the people of his district would know his positions on the issues.

Constituent service helps make or break a politician. If I was your representative I would do my best to treat my constituents with care even if we disagree strongly on an issue.