Van Tran Donates Pay Increase To Charity
Posted by: Jubal | 03/20/2008 2:33 PM
This just came over the transom from Assemblyman Van Tran's office:Tran Keeps His Commitment To Donate Salary Increase To Charity
"I believe the people of California elected me to the Assembly with a salary already set."
GARDEN GROVE- Last Friday morning, Assemblyman Van Tran kept his commitment to donate his mandatory salary increase to local charities. He also reiterated his criticism the Citizens Compensation Commission for recommending such an increase in a time of overwhelming budget deficits.
In July of last year, the obscure Citizens Compensation Commission voted unanimously to give the Legislature a 2.75 percent salary increase or $3,110-a-year raise.
"I do not support the Commission's decision. I believe this is a terrible example to set at a time where the state has such a large deficit and significant budget cuts are being considered. Also, I think having the Commission set salaries takes responsibility away from Legislators," said Tran.
"I believe the people of California elected me to the Assembly with a salary already set. I'm sure that these worthwhile local causes will make a much better use of the raise than Sacramento's bloated bureaucracy."
Assemblyman Tran presented the after tax portion of his pay increase to various local charities. The following non-profit organizations received checks ranging from $250 to $500: Acacia Adult Day Care Center - Garden Grove; Rose Center Foundation - Westminster; Shalimar Learning Center - Costa Mesa; Viet Toc Foundation; Santa Ana Republican Assembly; and Little Saigon Business Development.
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Politics Behind the Orange Curtain
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
Honorable Assemblyman,
You are setting a great example to our community & hopefully to other members of the legislature...
Please do keep up the good work...I look forward to working with you and supporting you in your bid for higher offices...
Once again, thank you...
Whether you are a Dina or Janet fan, if you have a conservative bone in you body, you have to love this move.
If only we could give the entire Costal Commission budget to charity...
I like that even as Tran fights over the 1st Sup race, he works on solid GOP issues and with the Republican nominee for President.
Seems like a big picture kind of guy. I'd be excited to see him run against Loretta.
You kept your promise. Way to go Van Tran!
I'm not convinced that a donation to another political entity (the Santa Ana Republican Assembly) qualifies as a charitable donation.
Publius,
Good point. In fact I wonder how many of the listed organizations are just Trannie fronts?
It would have been better for Tran to return the money to the State Treasury, or to give the money to the United Way and let them give it to legitimate charities.
The CRA(zy) certainly is no charity.
Art and Publius,
It's Van Tran's money and he can give it to anyone he likes. Just appreciate the fact that he didn't give it to the Young Democrats of OC.
As for Art, looks like you didn't make the short list. Stop moaning about a good deed from Van Tran. You look petty and small minded.
I'd say Van Tran should give all his pay raise to the Santa Ana CRA, if that pleases Art Pedroza ... not!!!
"It's Van Tran's money"
It actually is the TAXPAYERS money
Actually, Thomas, when the money was given from the State to Van Tran it became HIS money.
He then CHOSE to give it to charity, instead of keeping it for himself.
Thomas Anthony Gordon,
Gee, using that rationale your money is the TAXPAYERS money as well - DUH! Since when does one's salary become the taxpayers to decide??? Don't you work for LAUSD? I guess we should form a committee and tell you how you have to spend the money you earn since after all it's really OUR money you working for.
It's his salary, and therefore, his money. it may be taxpayers' funds, but it is his salary and money when it comes to him.
Actually, if you think about it, Van Tran is front loading the give out, out of his own pocket, since he's donating in money in March, instead of waiting until the end of the year,when he collected the full pay increase.
I have not seen Art Pedroza giving charities a dime.
Art can be moody when people are doing good things for the public. Isn't it weird?
Wouldn't it be better for the State's General Fund if he had just refused the raise in the first place instead of accepting it, and then sending out a press release about his charitable donations (that he can later write off)?
I think it's better idea to penalize Art a one single penny for each lie he spits out on this blog.
Within a month, we might have enough money to build a house for homeless people in Santa Ana.
If we can include his additional lies from Art's own blog....well, we can build a nice hotel for the homeless in no time.
Anonymous at 7:40 PM,
Your suggestion is the worse scenario if you think about it. The money will go back to the general fund in which the Liberal Democrats are in control and they will spend however they like. Why would you want to give the raise back to the pool and have absolutely no control how it's going to be spent by the Dems? Why would you want to further feed the bloated monster that is known as the state bureaucracy?
On top of that, why wouldn't you not want to bring this money back, which is Tran's in the first place, to spend in the district for local causes? It makes great policy, financial, and political sense.
However you splice this one, Tran gets a lot of plaudits for what he's doing.
Since the Santa Ana CRA is NOT a charity, I suppose they will be paying taxes on this donation from Tran?
Art Pedroza,
The CRA SA doesn't have to pay any taxes, other than a refund from the IRS, if it doesn't take in the minimum annual amount of what ($6,000.00). As with most volunteer organizations, I doubt if it has to pay anything to Uncle Sam.