The OC Register’s story about legislators’ tax-free income actually points out an interesting fact about Assemblyman Van Tran‘s residence: It’s not in the Congressional district he’s running for.
The Register story here reveals that Van Tran’s official residence is his parents’ home in Westminster.
Van Tran is a candidate for the 47th Congressional district, and that district (map here) does not have any part of Westminster in it.
In fact, the home of Tran’s parents, located in a cul-de-sac near the corner of Bolsa and Magnolia, is in the 46th Congressional district, currently represented by Dana Rohrabacher.
Not that it legally matters; unlike other offices, for Congressional candidates the law (actually the US Constitution) only requires that they come from the same state and does not require that they live in the district.
What this does illustrate, though, is that most of the time a candidate’s residence doesn’t quite matter. Despite the negative connotations that come with being a “carpetbagger,” most of the time it’s not an issue. Especially in Orange County. Especially for a Republican.
Van Tran and his allies used to pour a lot of efforts and resources into supporting State Senate candidate Lynn Daucher. She needed to establish residence in the 34th district, so she rented an apartment in Fullerton without living there. Garden Grove Councilman Andrew Do also rents a house in the city even though he already owns one somewhere else, but at least he’s living in the rental. And the current Republican candidate for the 34th State Senate district Sue Perez, she’s not living in the district now either.
So, if residence can be fudged when there’s a legal requirement, it certainly can be skirted when there’s no such requirement.
Still it looks funny. What it may do, though, is to stop Tran’s allies from harping about other candidates’ and officials’ residences.
The OC Register story is actually about something else. It’s about how state legislators take advantage of the per diem payments. These are supposed to defray the cost of being in Sacramento temporarily while the Legislature is in session, but in reality the payments are so high that many use the money to buy huge houses in Sacramento.
The piece leads with Van Tran’s house in West Sacramento (pictured), “a 2,658-square-foot house with two fireplaces and a three-car garage” in a gated community.
Tran was able to collect his per diem, even though he lives a few miles away from the office, because his official residence is where he’s registered to vote, at his parents’ home in Westminster. Which, again, is not in the Congressional district he’s running for.
Actually, to the Bolsavik, the per diem issue is no big deal. It’s a monetary windfall that the law provides. Whatever the intent of the per diem used to be, now it’s become a second paycheck. It’s a law that says “for every day we’re in session, you get $X tax-free per day.”
So if we’re paying them, it’s their money, and they can buy whatever they want with it.
The piece quotes a Tea Party activist as saying, “But see, that’s the point. It’s not their money. It’s the taxpayer’s money.”
Maybe. But if the taxpayers are foolish enough to let the Legislature get away with the per diem law, then of course the taxpayers and their money are soon parted.
If you don’t like it, change the law – or the bozos that make the law. Don’t leave the loophole there and complain that people are driving Mack trucks through it.
Then who gave it you Van?
My wife?
Kimmy;
Well, your post about burning QP book gets me kinda curious, so I went into the Quang-Pham’s site to find out about this book: My Sense of Duty, the book overview:
“In 1964, Hoa Pham, a South Vietnamese fighter pilot, was shot down by Viet Cong antiaircraft fire while flying in support of American forces and rescued. When Saigon fell to the communists, his 10-year-old son, Quang, escaped with his mother and three sisters to America. Thirty years later, Quang, now a U.S. Marine pilot turned successful entrepreneur, retraces a uniquely spirited yet agonizing journey from the Vietnam War to peace, from blame to forgiveness, and an eventual surprise reunion with his father who survived 12 years in post-war prison camps….”
Anyway, can you or anyone bloggers here tell me why any viets who come to this country, living on this land of the free would have an idea of burning this book?
So, kimmy, answer me:
Do you have any thing against the South Vietnamese force? Are you working for the commies, huh?
IZ Van Tran your commie handler? huh?
Just Asking/Muon Nam/Bo May = Quang Pham. Are you having a nervous breakdown? From reading your posts. You are one crazy dude. Don’t want you, a street thug, to be my Congreeaaseeman. You are one scary thug.
Noo… I’m having fun! You on the other hand, couldn’t have another nervous breakdown now could you?
Just Asking,
Having fun like you then you might as well talke a valium for fun! Ha ha ha!! Jung Kim is frying your ass. He’s making you look like a moron.
Quang Pham has burned 50k for short lived title “former candidate” and his wife is no where to be found?
Where is your wife Quang?
Quang came back from a queer service duty and started marrying everyone!
4 wives in last 10 years? How many green cards have you sold?
Haha… I’m sure everybody know who’s frying whose asses around here. Here food for thought , I rather look like a moron than being moron like yourself. Keep wishing!
Quang…no wonder you couldn’t get endorsement from Republicans!
How do you stand on selling green card opportunities on E Bay?
Kimmy baby, why are you keep asking for Quang’s wife. Do you two have something going on that I don’t know about ? Don’t you get tired of asking the same question over and over again? The bottom line is:
NOBODY CARE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION!!!
Haha… how is Quang is going to get the endorsement when I already play the underhand. That idiot is going to need to take alot of lesson from me to know how to be a dirty politician.
Quang Pham must be loaded…… probably made money from a offshore queer service duty and marrying girls from bus stops.
He has a good quality to be ” former candidate for US congress”
Where is Quang’s #4 wife?
Even Bolsavik has not seen Quang’s #4 wife……….. I haven’t seen any of 4 wives. Are they cute Quang?
I think I’m going to steal that idea from Just asking and write a book about me : ” ME, The Vietnamese Godfather ” and it’s going have part I, II and III
* Part I : Cindy & Me
* Part II: Kimmy & Me
* Part III: Cindy, Kimmy & Me
Are you on the internet looking for your wife #4 Quang?
Quang, what is your #4 wife’s name?
Hey Kimmy, if you’re going to church this Sunday make sure you ask your priest : Is it a sin to be interest in another man’s wife?
How many lover do you have Van? Is it ten?
Muon Nam aka Quang Pham,
Why are you not out there campaigning since nobody knows you in the district. You are so stupid. You think people will vote for you on the blog?
Sitting around the computer all day getting into a pissing contest with the Guru Jung Kim is a sure loser!
Just asking, you know the policy: Shhhh ….
Thank you Joey for your concern but I have everything under control. I’m not afraid of Quang, after all he’s a nobody right ?
Van must be pretty worry !!! Well, he should be !!!
After all, he wouldn’t want to burn all the money he made from cheating the government now would he?
Joey, this is THE campaign plan for Quang Pham.
Blogging here day and night looking for a missing wife.
kimmy; Why keep avoiding the question, one more time, why do you want to burn the book, My sense of Duty?
Kimmy uses the blog name ‘Real Marine’ to put down another Marine, the action is similar to the VC hit and run tactic.
He hates Quang Pham book.
He posted repeatedly on this blog , insults, lies, curses with the most vile languages that sound exactly like the commie propaganda stuff back in nam.
His handler, van tran, also cheated the state 137 K for living in his own mansion.
His handler , van tran, involved in a devastating accident that knocked down a transformer after leaving Cytrist.
His handler wife is an insurance fraudsters.
I rest my case.
Joey, Quang Pham only wanted to be called a “former candidate for US candidate” and he doesn’t need to campaign for that title… he paid 50k for it already.
And our campaign plan is for Kimmy to blog here day and night asking for votes from Viet’s community.
Bo May = Quang Pham, I don’t use other names ask Bolsavik.
Come on guys, why do we keep talking about Quang? Like I said, he’s nobody right?
No, this is my community service as a official Guru.
Helping Quang to find his missing wife # 4.
Quang Pham,
I have not been posting anything until now. Frankly, I have been disgusted with your unbecoming behavior, both as a candidate and a former Marine officer. You stain the uniform that you once proudly wear. Don’t you have any shame and when will you stop bringing approbrium to the entire Corps and your brother Marines?
Let talk about me for a chance, you guys are paying too much attention on Quang like you want people to know about him. Now, lets say together:
VAN TRAN MUON NAM !
100 times
“Real Marine” must have hurt your feeling…. poor Queer Quang.
Go bark at him/her.
Where is your wife Quang?
Hey pussy, if you’ve been gone… nobody missed you anyway. Isn’t it more effective to send Pham an e-mail?
Where’s your dog Kimmy?
ohh, now I know why you guys don’t want to send your questions to Quang’s e-mail. You affraid he’s gone know who you really are.
WHAT A BUNCH OF CHICKEN SHIT!
Yes, Real Marine, if you are one then van-tran’s wife is a Real Saint.
Your language just reeks of the viet petty mental trace.
Nice try though, I give you that.
Funny trash but funny nonetheless,
Why do you want to burn QP book kimmy?
Bo May, if that pussy wants to be a real marine, let him be. He can always dream.
Ex-Major Pham,
You are ducking my questions. You know I hit it the target head on.
Why do you come back with profanities and tantrums as if you can’t respond? Didn’t the Corps teach you how to stay cool under fire? Don’t unriate in your own pants.
After all, look at Quang and who wouldn’t want to be a marine!
Look at Van and you don’t want to be a politician!
Hey pussy, you’re talking to yourself. If you are a real marine, send Quang an e-mail. Don’t come in here and talking to yourself, chicken shit!
“Ex- Major Queer” is the best name for Queer Quang!
Desperately seeking Quang….where is your wife, life?
Kimmy, nice try, why hiding behind that name, you are a disgust to the viet race. Oh, I forgot you have no shame.
Turtle Face must have taught you real good how to fake, lie, cheat.
So phony.
Hey pussy, I dare you send Quang an e-mail. Or better yet , I dare all of you Van’s gang to send Quang an e-mail.
Why can’t you answer me? Where’s your dog Kimmy?
Just Asking!,
Why should I send Quang Pham a private e-mail and waste my time with him when a platoon of ex-military already spoke with him to no avail? This ex-Marine has wooden ears. He can’t follow orders.
Tell me why does Pham deserve my attention other than for me to expose his misconduct for others to see that he is staining the very uniform that he used to wear?
An officer and a gentleman do not curse in public. That tells me a lot about your lack of character and your lack of civility, Pham.