Press Releases

 Bornstein Campaign Responds to Rick Green of the Desert Sun

PALM DESERT, CA, September 7, 2008 -- today’s Desert Sun, executive editor Rick Green addressed Julie Bornstein’s campaign:

“Memo to the staff of Julie Bornstein, the Democratic opponent of Rep. Mary Bono Mack in the 45th Congressional District: Is Bono Mack's last name really one of the most pressing issues before voters during a time of war, a rotten economy and a tough housing market?”

Of course not. The unending war in Iraq, terrible new unemployment numbers, record foreclosures in Riverside County, the tripling of gas prices, skyrocketing food prices, the lack of affordable health care for tens of thousands of our neighbors and all the other problems brought about by the last eight years of President Bush and his supporters in Congress are far more important than what the current Congresswoman currently calls herself.

So we were quite surprised when one of Mr. Green’s reporters called out of the blue last week to ask about the Congresswoman’s name. It was the Desert Sun who raised this issue, not our campaign.

We were not as surprised, though we were disappointed, that the Desert Sun reporter did not ask any questions about the pressing problems facing our community and our country, or the current Congresswoman’s hand in creating them by her 92% support of the Bush administration.

We are sure the voters in the 45^th District would welcome an open debate between the candidates on the issues and the challenges we face. Perhaps Mr. Green’s newspaper could organize and moderate such a debate.

We will leave it up to the voters to decide in November whether the legacy of the late Congressman Sonny Bono’s name, or the legacy of eight years of failure and tragedy brought about by George W. Bush and his best friends in Congress are more important factors in their vote.

Bornstein Receives Multiple Endorsements in Denver

Also Is Introduced to DCCC Donors

PALM DESERT, CA, August 29, 2008 -- Democratic Congressional candidate Julie Bornstein (CA-45) received the endorsements of 11 current and former Members of Congress, State Superintendent of Instruction Jack O'Connell, and the National Women's Political Caucus at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week.

Bornstein was also warmly introduced in a private meeting of donors to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) by DCCC Chairman Chris van Hollen (D-MD).

Bornstein was endorsed in Denver by Representatives Brad Sherman, Barbara Lee, George Miller, Howard Berman, Mike Thompson, Sam Farr, Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa of California, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and Dale Kildee of Michigan, and John Salazar of Colorado. Former Congressman Mel Levine also endorsed. This brings the number of current and former Members endorsing Julie's run against Mary (Bono) Mack to 19, including Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell also endorsed, joining 26 other prominent state and local officials.

The National Women's Political Caucus endorsed Bornstein and featured her at their event at the Convention

Bornstein Calls Mack Mailer "Misleading and Full of Bad Ideas"

PALM DESERT, CA, August 25, 2008 -- Democratic Congressional candidate Julie Bornstein called Rep. Mary Mack's (formerly Mary Bono) recent taxpayer-paid campaign mailing "mostly misleading, and full of bad ideas that will hurt the environment but won't lower gas prices for middle-class families."
"Drilling in ANWR and increasing oil shale development will provide no price relief to the families of Riverside County, will have potentially catastrophic environmental consequences and will make billions for huge oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil," Bornstein said.

Energy conglomerates have contributed over $250,000 to Rep. Mack since she has been in Congress, and her financial disclosure forms show she owns substantial stock in several of them. "When voters look at the candidates, they should ask why Mack supports these ideas, and votes to give big oil and gas companies billions in taxpayer money," Bornstein said.

Background
Earlier this month, Rep. Mack sent postcards -- resembling campaign mail, but costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars -- to voters throughout the 45th District. The postcards were printed and mailed using Mack's Congressional "franking privilege," originally designed to allow members of Congress to communicate actual news to constituents.

From the postcard: Mack called for opening ANWR (the Alaskan Natural Wildlife Refuge) for drilling and for increasing oil shale development.
Fact: The US Department of Energy estimates that even in full production, drilling in ANWR would lower the price of crude oil between 41 cents and $1.44 per barrel -- in the year 2025. That's between a penny and three cents a gallon of gas, 17 years from now. For that small possible benefit, the real price would be permanent damage to one of the last pristine places in North America.
Fact: Oil-shale extraction also does little to decrease the price of fuel to consumers, and releases more greenhouse gas than regular oil extraction. Most processes are only in experimentation now, use huge amounts of water and cause devastating pollution.

From the postcard: Mack says: "The sooner we expand our domestic energy supply, the sooner we can realize a more secure energy future."
Fact: Oil is traded on a global market. Increasing US oil and gas production will not affect the price of gasoline in this country very much, if at all. It will, however, benefit the bottom lines and stock prices of US-based oil companies, who will sell the oil on the international market.

From the postcard: The postcard features a photo montage of windmills and solar panel arrays. In the text, Mack says: "Our region is home to abundant sources of renewable energy -- from wind to solar to geothermal." She also writes about the importance of tax subsidies for conservation.
Fact: Rep. Mack voted NO on HR 3221, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 (roll call no. 832, 110th Congress, 1st session). This bill, which passed the House, promoted alternative energy purchases by electric utilities, increased development loans for conservation, created grants for small business to improve energy performance, and authorized up to $1 billion in loan guarantees for bio-fuel refinery construction. She also voted NO on HR 5351 (roll call 84, 110th Congress, 2nd session), which extended tax credits for wind farms, geothermal and solar energy facilities, extended the 30% tax credit for solar property, and increased the homeowners' tax credit for solar from $2,000 to $4,000. Both bills' provisions would have promoted alternative fuel industry and created jobs in the 45th District.

Other Notable Mack Votes on Energy: 1) NO on HR 6251, requiring oil companies to to develop existing leases before applying for new off-shore drilling (roll call no. 469, 110th Congress, 2nd session); 2) YES on HR 4 (roll call 320, 107th Congress, 2nd session), which provided over $30 billion in taxpayer subsidies for oil and gas conglomerates.

Mary Mack Has Received Over a Quarter-Million Dollars in Energy Company Contributions
According to the Federal Election Commission and opensecrets.org, Rep. Mack has received $227,295 in campaign contributions from energy and natural resources company PACs and executives since she was first elected to Congress, including over $75,000 from the oil and gas business, and over $95,000 from electric utilities.

Mary Mack Owns Significant Stock in Energy Companies
According to the Sunlight Foundation, Rep. Mack's most recent personal financial disclosure form to the Clerk of the House shows direct ownership of between $22,000 and $155,000 in oil and gas industry stock. (Disclosures are made in very broad ranges). Among the companies whose stock she owns are ExxonMobil, Devon Energy, Dominion Resources, Emerson Electric, Progress Energy, and Baker Hughes. The disclosure form (and those for previous years) also shows that Rep. Mack is an active trader in energy stocks.

PALM SPRINGS, CA, August 15, 2008 -- Democratic Congressional candidate Julie Bornstein celebrated the opening of her seventh campaign office in her race against Republican incumbent Mary Mack (formerly Mary Bono).  About 100 supporters attended the opening in Palm Springs.

Bornstein spoke during the event on two topics: celebrating the 73rd birthday of Social Security, and an initiative by the group Good Deeds to recycle cell phones to both alleviate global warming and reduce poverty among women.

Bornstein noted that "Social Security is the most successful anti-poverty program in the history of America, brought to you by the Democratic Party."  The attendees shared a cake decorated to resemble a Social Security card.

Bornstein also issued a challenge to her supporters to recycle their old cell phones by October 17th (which is World Poverty Day).  Each recycled phone prevents the release of 66 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere, and the phones themselves are used to fund anti-poverty programs for women and children.