Mary Bono Mack

Mary Bono Mack
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 45th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Dana Rohrabacher (redistricted to 46th)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 44th district
In office April 7, 1998 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Sonny Bono
Succeeded by	Ken Calvert (when she redistricted to 45th)
Personal details
Born	Mary Whitaker October 24, 1961 (1961-10-24) (age 50) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Sonny Bono (1986–1998) (his death) Glenn Baxley (2001–2005) (divorced) Connie Mack IV (2007–present)
Children	Chesare Elan Bono Chianna Maria Bono
Residence	Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Southern California
Occupation	Small business owner
Religion	Protestantism
Website	Congresswoman Mary Bono

Mary Bono Mack (born October 24, 1961) is the U.S. Representative for California's 45th congressional district, and previously the 44th, serving since 1998. She is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Palm Springs and includes most of central and eastern Riverside County. Bono Mack sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and is Chairwoman for the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. Bono Mack is the only Republican woman in California's congressional delegation.

Early life

She was born Mary Whitaker in Cleveland, Ohio, but moved to South Pasadena, California, in 1963. She worked her way through the University of Southern California, graduating in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History. She was an accomplished gymnast in her youth.

Congressional career

Earlier photo of Mary Bono, c. 2005

The 45th had long been a Republican stronghold but has become much more Democratic in recent years; it currently has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+3. While Moreno Valley and Palm Springs have a slight Democratic tilt, Palm Desert is strongly conservative. Her district includes the highest percentage of gays and lesbians of any district represented by a Republican.^[1]

Bono Mack followed the Republican Party line 89% of the time according to Congressional Quarterly. In 2004, she received an 84% approval rating from the Christian Coalition of America,^[2] but this fell to 33% in 2008.^[3] In 1999, she voted in favor of the Largent Amendment,^[4] to ban adoption by same-sex couples in Washington, D.C.^[5] Bono Mack has, however, voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment twice.

Some of the congresswoman's legislative history includes a bill that calls for country-of-origin labeling for fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as several energy-saving bills to reward companies for utilizing clean burning fuel technologies and increase the energy-efficiency of federal buildings. In 2000, Bono Mack helped pass legislation that established the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument in the Palm Springs region. The House of Representatives passed her Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass (SPY ACT), which would protect an individual’s personal information on the Web. Also, Bono Mack has sponsored legislation that provides funding for obesity studies and improved nutrition programs nationwide, autism research, and Federal funding under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Act. ^[6]

Bono Mack was a leading proponent of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, the so-called Mickey Mouse Law, which extended the terms of copyright. Giving a speech on the floor of Congress in favor of the bill, Bono Mack said:

Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright protection to last forever. I am informed by staff that such a change would violate the Constitution. ... As you know, there is also [Motion Picture Association of America president] Jack Valenti's proposal for the term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the Committee may look at that next Congress.^[7]

She won her sixth term in 2008 with 58% of the vote,^[8] down slightly from 60.7% in 2006.^[9][10]

In December 2010, Bono Mack was one of fifteen Republican House members to vote in favor of repealing the United States military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on openly homosexual service members.^[11][12]

Bono Mack has received numerous awards from such organizations as Americans for Tax Reform, National Federation of Independent Businesses, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the SunLine Transit Agency for her support of alternative fuel technologies.^[6] She is also a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.^[13]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade (Chairwoman)
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Environment and Economy

• Congressional Hispanic Conference {associate member}
• Republican Main Street Partnership

Caucus memberships

• America Supports You Caucus
• Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy Prevention Caucus (Co-Chair)
• International Conservation Caucus
• Recording Arts and Sciences Caucus (Co-Chair)

Media coverage

Bono Mack has been the subject of numerous profiles for a wide array of publications and television shows, including People, Capital Style, Elle, Entertainment Tonight, Esquire, George, Good Housekeeping, Hello!, Ladies' Home Journal, and PBS. In 1998, Bono Mack was named one of the "Most Fascinating Women of 1998" by Ladies' Home Journal magazine in conjunction with CBS Television. She was also selected by the former George magazine as one of the 20 most fascinating women in politics. In 2008, she was named the "Seventh Hottest Politician in the World" by Maxim.

Personal life

In 1986, Bono Mack married singer and actor Sonny Bono and moved to Palm Springs. In his biography, The Beat Goes On, Sonny said "When I wrote songs I always knew if I was on to something that was great. I could just tell. I felt that way about being with Mary. I knew it was great." Soon after, Sonny Bono became interested in politics, serving as Mayor of Palm Springs (1988-92) and being elected to Congress (1994). When reflecting about his marriage and family, Sonny said, "I've never been happier. For the first time I feel free to really love someone and to be a great father."^[14] Due to Sonny Bono's commitment to Scientology at the time, Bono Mack took some Scientology courses together with her husband but soon decided it was not for her.^[15]

Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident on January 5, 1998. Thereafter Bono Mack won the Republican nomination for the special election to succeed him. She then won in the special election April 7, 1998. She won a full term in November and has been re-elected since. As of 2007, Bono Mack was one of six representatives to be elected to their seats following the deaths of their husbands—Lindy Boggs (D-LA), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Lois Capps (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Sala Burton (D-CA).

In 2001, Bono Mack married Wyoming businessman Glenn Baxley about 18 months after they met in Mexico. They filed for divorce in 2005.^[16] On December 15, 2007, Bono Mack married Congressman Connie Mack IV (R-FL) in Asheville, North Carolina.^[17]

Bono Mack has a son, Chesare Elan Bono (born 1988), and a daughter, Chianna Maria Bono (born 1991), from her marriage to Sonny Bono. She has four stepchildren: Christy Bono, Chaz Bono, Addison Mack, and Connie Mack. In addition to her family, Bono Mack has interests in music and outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. In the April 2008 edition of Golf for Women magazine, she was listed as "one of the 50 most powerful women who play" golf.^[18]

After attending a lecture by mountaineer-turned-humanitarian Greg Mortenson, Bono Mack worked with him to open doors in Washington, D.C., to aid his efforts to build schools for girls in the mountainous regions of Pakistan. Bono Mack is quoted in Mortenson's book Three Cups of Tea as saying "I've learned more from Greg Mortenson about the causes of terrorism than during all our briefings on Capitol Hill".^[19]

References

1. ^ "Same-sex Couples and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Population: New Estimates from the American Community Survey". The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA School of Law. October, 2006. http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/SameSexCouplesandGLBpopACS.pdf. Retrieved February 15, 2007. 
2. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
3. ^ http://www.cc.org/files/3/2008_Scorecard_8_5x11.pdf
4. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1999/roll346.xml
5. ^ "Human Rights Campaign". Commondreams.org. 1999-07-29. http://www.commondreams.org/pressreleases/july99/072999f.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-30. 
6. ^ ^{a b} [2] Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack: Biography
7. ^ 144 Congressional Record H9952^{[dead link]}.
8. ^ Riverside County Registrar of Voters
9. ^ Bono Election Day Schedule^{[dead link]}
10. ^ "sov_detail_congress.xls" (PDF). http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/congress.pdf. Retrieved 2010-09-30. 
11. ^ Chris Geidner, House Passes DADT Repeal Bill, Metro Weekly (December 15, 2010).
12. ^ House Vote 638 - Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', New York Times (December 15, 2010).
13. ^ "Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers". Atr.org. http://www.atr.org/current-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-th-a2851. Retrieved 2010-09-30. 
14. ^ Sonny Bono: And the beat goes on
15. ^ Bardach, Ann (August 1999). "Proud Mary Bono". George Magazine. 
16. ^ The Associated Press (2007-12-17). "Reps. Mary Bono, Connie Mack marry | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California". PE.com. http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_bonowed17.4d6b542.html. Retrieved 2010-09-30. 
17. ^ "Fox News, GOP House Members Mary Bono and Connie Mack Marry in North Carolina". Foxnews.com. 2007-12-16. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316990,00.html. Retrieved 2010-09-30. 
18. ^ Golf for Women, April 2008
19. ^ "Mortenson, Greg: Three Cups of Tea

External links

	Biography portal
	California portal

• U.S. Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack official U.S. House site
• Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Profile at SourceWatch

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Sonny Bono	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 44th congressional district April 7, 1998 – January 3, 2003	Succeeded by Ken Calvert
Preceded by Dana Rohrabacher	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 45th congressional district January 3, 2003 – present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Lois Capps D-California	United States Representatives by seniority 141st	Succeeded by Barbara Lee D-California

Persondata
Name	Mack, Mary Bono
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 24, 1961
Place of birth	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death