While Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack is facing a tough and impressive challenger in Julie Bornstein, the 45th Congressional District should be represented by a proven moderate and that is what Bono Mack has been.

Bono Mack, 46, has served the district well, and we are endorsing her for re-election.

Her centrist positions have been good for the district and the valley. She has split with her party on issues concerning gay rights and protections, children's health care insurance increases and added federal regulations on fuel economy, to name a few.

She has brought money to the valley in the funding of the tower at the Palm Springs International Airport and federal funds for early restoration of the Salton Sea. She is ensuring both the protection of wilderness and wildlife, as well as tourism so generations to come will be able to visit our unique desert landscape through the wilderness bill that would protect the Santa Rosa San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, among other areas. (Final passage of this important legislation is expected soon.)

She points to her ability to work across party lines as her greatest achievement during 10 years in Congress. She says Americans are tired of partisan bickering, and it must stop in an effort to get key pieces of legislation passed.

We couldn't agree more. We have seen what deep divisions can do on a local level when our own state lawmakers couldn't agree on a budget. It stalled the business of running a state and almost paralyzed it. We expect better.

The congressional vote on the $700 billion economic rescue plan was a far more cooperative effort. After two weeks of debate, a plan to stem the credit crisis was signed by President Bush. Bono Mack will admit it's not perfect, “a beginning point; not an ending,” she said. But she wasn't willing to sit back and do nothing, or engage in partisan bickering. She voted for the bill.

She says she works well with and respects both U.S. California Democrats Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, as well as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, also a California Democrat. Bono Mack has coordinated with Boxer on important legislation to improve the valley. We should expect more of the same from Bono Mack.

Bornstein, 60, a former nonprofit housing executive, lawyer and state legislator, is a polished candidate who has good ideas on English language immersion and mental health care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. But we questioned whether she would be a consistent moderate voice in Washington.

Bono Mack has been criticized by her opponent and some members of the district for not participating in a local forum, in which other candidates were present. Bono Mack should have participated in at least one debate or forum in the valley. She also has received criticism for not taking a stand on Proposition 8, the proposed California mandate that would ban same-sex marriages. But she is right when she says Proposition 8 is a state issue, not a federal one. In terms of her record in the House, she said it stands for itself, and it does. In 2006, the House rejected an amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Bono Mack was one of only two House Republicans from California who voted against the amendment.

In recent months, Bono Mack is most proud of legislation she sponsored to require the country of origin and truth in labeling of consumer products. It's one of the heaviest pieces of legislation she has pushed through in her career.

She serves on the energy and commerce committee and its panel on energy and air quality. She introduced the Renewable Energy and Production Incentive Reauthorization and Reform Act, which benefits energy utilities economically while they work to become more efficient. She is focused on alternative fuel sources, including hydrogen fuel cells and nuclear energy. She does not typically support off-shore drilling, but if it was far enough off shore, as not to ruin California's scenic views, she said she would consider new drilling.

Many of our values align with her ideals, and we know she will continue to be a moderate voice on behalf of the valley.

Bono Mack is the right choice for the 45th Congressional District.