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Assemblyman Van Tran Kicks Off His Campaign for Congress

February 16, 2010

Contact: Rory Luepton (760) 500-9930

(Santa Ana) - Yesterday, Assemblyman Van Tran formally kicked off his campaign in the nationally targeted race for the 47th Congressional seat, held by Loretta Sanchez. The events drew dozens of supporters, including the Honorable Lucille Kring, Honorable Chris Street, Honorable Allan Mansour, Honorable Carlos Bustamante, and Orange County Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh. Assemblyman Tran declared that he is ready, anxious and excited about the opportunity to run for Congress in the district he has called home for the past 30 years.

Yesterday’s three stop tour started at Tiffy’s Family Restaurant, a family owned diner in Anaheim. Tiffy’s Family Restaurant has been forced to cut back on its labor, reducing half of its 40 employees to part-time hours.

“I am running for Congress to help bring common sense back to Washington. Restaurants like Tiffy’s are having to cut back on hours, said Tran. “Small businesses are the innovators and job creators in our country. We need to let them grow, rather than suffocate them with more taxation and regulation.”

Tran followed his stop in Anaheim with a stop at Bazz Houston Co., a local manufacturing company that has been doing business in Garden Grove for over 50 years. Bazz Houston has had to cut labor by 20 percent, reducing their employees work week from five days to four.

“Recently, we’ve had to make hard changes. We have had to cut back our employees hours, and send some of our secondary jobs to our other location. This is not what the owners of Bazz Houston intended years ago when they established this business,” said Javier Castro, CEO of Bazz Houston Co. “The costs of business and the costs of regulation have come to a point where we are forced to make these difficult decisions. That’s why we are excited about Van running for Congress. He understands the problems small businesses face. He understands the problems our district face, and is ready to cut the red tape, and reduce the burden our government is placing on all of us.”

Tran finished his tour with a kickoff in Santa Ana, in front of the historic Santora building. The owner of Santora, Mike Harrah, chose to purchase and renovate the building. Since renovation, Santora has been home to many fine retail establishments and has contributed to the revitalization of the downtown Santa Ana area. Harrah’s company, Carribou Industries, is about to build One Broadway Plaza, Orange County’s eventual tallest building. One Broadway Plaza will bring 2900 jobs to Santa Ana, along with state of the art infrastructure and design.

“Job creators like Mike Harrah and Carribou Industries are essential to our economy. In order for us to turn things around in Washington, we need to let people like Mike do their jobs, and that’s create business and revitalize our economy, and that is exactly what I intend to do,” said Tran.

Assemblyman Tran understands the dynamics of the 47th district. That is why he chose to have three consecutive kickoffs in all parts of the district.

“I chose to have my campaign kickoffs in all three parts of the 47th district. I want the people to know that there is no part of the 47th Congressional district that I will concede,” said Assemblyman Tran. “This race is going to be hard fought, its going to take a lot of hard work, and I am ready. The people of the 47th district are ready.”

Van Tran Responds To Obama’s State Of The Union Address

Assemblyman Van Tran Responds to the State of the Union Address
Van Tran applauds President Obama’s efforts to focus on jobs and the economy.

Santa Ana — Tonight, President Obama delivered his first State of the Union address. The message was clear, and the administration has renewed its promise to focusing on our economy and creating jobs. At a time when 58 percent of the American people feel the nation is headed in the wrong direction, President Obama is attempting to bring the focus back on moving in the right direction, and that is the direction of job creation and fixing the budget.

“I appreciate that President Obama is changing his tone and focusing his efforts on bringing his policies to be more what America wants and needs. However, I feel there was not nearly enough of an emphasis on creating jobs,” says Assemblyman Van Tran, candidate for the 47th congressional district. “What we need is an economic plan that focuses on getting people back to work, not government overspending. My first priorities are creating jobs, cutting out wasteful government spending to fix the budget, and to get rid of the red tape our government creates for business.”

President Obama also spoke at length about the need for healthcare reform. He renewed his promise to the American people for transparency of governmental practices, something that he admitted was missing in current negotiations.

“Contrary to popular belief, we support healthcare reform, but the current bill is too big, and attempts to do too many things at once,” says Assemblyman Tran. “What we need to focus on is how to reign in these ideas, and pass a responsible bill that provides quality healthcare coverage without breaking the bank.”

Editorial: Resounding victory for Republicans

Orange County Republicans and the party’s politicians representing Newport-Mesa statewide and nationally must like their chances going into the 2010 electoral season, now that the GOP has pulled off a stunning victory in Massachusetts.

Scott Brown’s Tuesday win, deep inside Democratic territory, snapped up a U.S. Senate seat for the Republicans, which for decades had belonged to the late Ted Kennedy. This followed two big GOP victories in New Jersey and Virginia. The Massachusetts upset also weakened the Democrats’ grip on both houses of Congress, stripping them of a filibuster- proof supermajority in the Senate. It almost certainly has doomed their chances of passing the bitterly fought health-care-reform bill.

“The Massachusetts election indicates a widespread dissatisfaction with the goals and methodology of the current Democrat majority and the president,” U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said. “If that’s true in liberal Massachusetts, it’s likely true elsewhere, including California.”

What happened last week can only buoy a quartet of area Republicans — U.S. Rep. John Campbell, State Sen. Tom Harman and State Assemblymen Van Tran and Chuck DeVore — who this year will be defending their seats or vacating them to challenge incumbents in higher offices.

“Since the 2008 elections, the thought du jour in California has been the Democrats will sweep the governor’s office, the U.S. Senate and keep all their legislative seats. This election shows that Americans are watching,” said Harman, who’s running for election as state attorney general.

Echoed Tran: “What we saw in Massachusetts this week is a demand for change that is deep and palpable throughout America — especially right here in Orange County.”

Campbell likened Massachusetts to a tide lifting up the fleet of Republicans boats.

“It wasn’t just a big wave. It was a tsunami,” he said.

While the congressman represents Orange County, one of the nation’s Republican strongholds, he says he’s not taking lightly the challenge being mounted by Democrat Beth Krom, the former Irvine mayor and councilwoman.

Krom acknowledges that the odds of unseating Campbell are against her. Still, she likes her chances, despite her party’s blowing it in Massachusetts.

“I don’t see it as a setback. What I do think is that the voters of Massachusetts seem to be indicating that they are more interested in voting for a person rather than a party,” Krom said, alluding to her prospects for picking up swing votes and winning over some of those rock-ribbed Republicans.

And, who knows? Krom might even pull off a Scott Brown-like upset in Orange County. Either way, we wish her, Campbell and all of the other candidates best of luck for their 2010 campaigns.

Massachusetts: The First Nail in Loretta Sanchez’s Coffin

Tran applauds Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts special election
For Immediate Release
January 19, 2010
Contact: Rory Luepton
(760) 500-9930

Santa Ana – Tonight, the citizens of Massachusetts turned a new page on the historic Senate seat once occupied by the late Ted Kennedy. Republican Scott Brown was elected to the United States Senate by defeating Democrat Martha Coakley and signaling a long anticipated change in direction in Congress.

Brown’s victory sets the tone for the 2010 election cycle. The change our Democratic representatives have offered is not the change Americans expected in 2008. Incumbents like Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) will be scrutinized and held accountable for all their votes.

“Senator Scott Brown’s victory is a victory for every hard working American,” says Van Tran, Republican candidate for the 47^th congressional district. “This has tremendous opportunity to change the tone and tenor of races across the country including ours. No one can think that Loretta is more likely to win than a Democrat in Massachusetts. Brown’s victory is the first nail driven in Loretta Sanchez’s coffin.”

“What we saw in Massachusetts tonight is a demand for change that is deep and palpable throughout America and especially right here in Orange County. That’s what my campaign is all about - The current status quo must go (Sanchez).”

The Washington Post: GOP Casting Wide Net In Effort To Recruit 2010 Hopefuls

By Paul Kane and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 8, 2010

…For a beleaguered Republican Party, Fincher’s candidacy is part of a recruiting renaissance following back-to-back elections during which the national political environment was tilted badly against it.

In races for the House and Senate, Republicans have found credible candidates that range from intriguing first-timers such as Fincher to ambitious politicians such as California state Assemblyman Van Tran, who took a pass on previous entreaties to challenge Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) but is ready now.

… the double-digit unemployment rate nationally, a spate of high-profile Democratic retirements and sagging approval ratings for the Obama administration have Republicans dreaming big about the 2010 midterms, leading to talk of a wave election cycle that would seriously dent the Democrats’ filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and threaten their hold on the House.

For the complete article CLICK HERE.

NPR: GOP Hopes ‘Fresh Face’ Will Unseat Calif. Incumbent

National Public Radio (NPR) recently ran a great profile of our race for Congress.

CLICK HERE to listen the podcast.

GOP Hopes ‘Fresh Face’ Will Unseat Calif. Incumbent
By Ina Jaffe
January 1, 2010

Republicans are hoping to make gains in the 2010 elections, and they’re looking for new voices to carry their message to voters.

One of their top prospects is California Assemblyman Van Tran. He’s the first Vietnamese-American to serve in a state legislature. Now, he has been recruited by the party to run for Congress in a Southern California district with the highest concentration of Vietnamese-Americans in the nation.

Tran has represented the 68th Assembly District for nearly six years. Before that, he was a member of a local city council. And Tran’s personal story is very much like those of his constituents. His family left Vietnam on an American military transport plane a week before the fall of Saigon, when he was 10 years old.

“It was a trip that defined … my life,” Tran says. “You’ve left a lot of memories back in the old country, and still you remember the legacy of the war, and you live through it, through your parents and through your elders as well.”

That experience, says Tran, has given him a unique perspective that has guided his political life.

“It goes back to the virtues that make this country great,” he says. “It’s all about freedom, it’s all about opportunity, it’s all about hard work and fairness and the generosity of the American people as well.”

Tran describes himself as a conservative on social issues, as well as fiscal ones. But U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who is in charge of recruiting candidates for the National Republican Congressional Committee, says he was looking for more than a conservative ideologue.

“I’m looking for fresh faces, people who understand their district, listen to their district, could actually solve problems,” McCarthy says. “When you look at this district and the makeup of it, [Tran] is one of the first names who come to mind.”

The Political Landscape: Pols Consider Resolutions For 2010

Our local lawmakers are looking ahead to 2010 and what the coming year will bring. In 2010,

…Assemblyman Van Tran said he views the new year as more of a time for reflection. He’s hoping to unseat Rep. Loretta Sanchez in 2010. “Around the holidays, I count my blessings and think about what has happened over the past year,” Tran said.

“Once I get into the new year is when I make a New Year’s resolution.”

FULL STORY

That’s Debatable: Healthcare

“Americans have concerns about President Obama’s health-care reform efforts for numerous reasons. Some are concerned about the government running our health-care system like they run the DMV, others feel the process is too fast for such an enormous reform and others question the timing of new taxes and penalties on an already struggling economy

… in my experience, no matter what background you come from, people want the same things — an opportunity for a good living, safety for their family and a bright future.

Health-care reform could affect each of these.”

FULL STORY

Sanchez Again Votes Against Small Business, for Extension of Death Tax

Tran Condemns Vote as Another Attack on Small Business.

For Immediate Release
December 3, 2009
Contact: Rorick Luepton
(760) 500-9930

Costa Mesa – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives considered HR 4154, the Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act. The legislation makes the death tax permanent with a top rate of 45%, and a $3.5 million exemption. Under current law, the death tax will be 0% for 2010 then will spike up to 55% in 2011 unless Congress can permanently repeal the tax.

Democrat, Loretta Sanchez (Rep – CA), voted once again along party lines by voting “yes.” Instead of helping small business owners and families by letting it go to 0% in 2010 and allow for a vote to permanently repeal the tax, Loretta Sanchez voted to permanently extend the tax at the current rate of 45%, thus adding another burden on the backs of hard-working Americans.

“Loretta voting for burdensome tax increases is not a surprise since she has a record of siding with the government in place of the people,” said Van Tran, candidate for California’s 47th Congressional District. “What is surprising, however, is that Loretta would turn a cold shoulder to small business and families in America by refusing to allow the tax to die in 2010 and voting to permanently extend the tax at a crippling rate of 45%. Loretta, today, voted once again for more red tape and burden for businesses and families, instead of lifting the weight of government off the shoulders of honest hard-working citizens.”

“The Death tax is unfair to taxpayers, harmful to both savings and investment and is a form of double taxation,” said Tran. “Loretta needs to talk with and meet her constituents and find out, like I have, that people are going through tough times and can’t afford another frivolous tax. This is just another reason why Loretta Sanchez needs to retire from Washington – she continues to hurt small businesses by continuing to vote for more regulations and government intervention.”

Van Tran: We Need Jobs, Not Fictitious Reports

Officials Cannot Verify Stimulus Jobs.

On Wednesday, the official in charge of overseeing the stimulus funds confirmed that he cannot verify whether the number of jobs “saved or created” by the Stimulus bill is accurate. In a letter to California Congressman Darrell Issa, Recovery Board Chairman Earl Devaney wrote, “Your letter specifically asks if I am able to certify that the number of jobs reported as created/saved on Recovery.gov is accurate and auditable. No, I am not able to make this certification.”

“It’s clear that this report was not worth the paper it was printed on,” said Congressional Candidate Van Tran. “With record unemployment, we don’t need more promises and exaggerations. We need jobs.” Representative Loretta Sanchez promised the $787 billion dollar “stimulus” bill would jump start the economy and that unemployment would not go higher than 8 percent. Yet, unemployment nationwide is now at a 26 year high of 10.2 percent and over 12 percent in California.

“Loretta Sanchez is spending billions of dollars to grow government instead of addressing our real problems,” said Tran. “The best way to stimulate the economy is to give people more of their own money to spend. Unfortunately, Loretta Sanchez is more focused on touting fictitious job numbers than helping to create real jobs.”

Van Tran has centered his campaign for Congress on the agenda of helping small businesses grow and creating good-paying jobs for Californians.

“Washington cannot create jobs,” said Tran. “However we must have the right policies in order to set the table for economic growth.”

You can find more information at www.joinvantran.com

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