2/26/2010 | Press Release
Van Tran Meets With Local Small Businesses To Discuss Job Creation
Dave Everett (951) 233-7804

(Orange County, CA) - Assemblyman Van Tran today hosted a meeting of local small businesses to discuss ideas for job creation in Orange County. The 68th Assembly District Small Business Advisory Council provides small business owners an opportunity to have their concerns heard and a chance to improve the business climate in California.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy," said Tran after the meeting. "We must do something to help our economy get back on track, and get people back to work. Small business owners are having to compensate for the government's failures by laying people off and reducing their pay. What we need to do is to reduce the red tape and regulations small businesses are facing today."

Assemblyman Tran partnered with the California Small Business Association in 2005 to form this local council, which meets quarterly. The California Small Business Association is a grass-roots, non-profit organization created as an outgrowth of the 1980 White House Conference on Small Business.

Small business leaders who attended include Larry Dick with Riddle Service Companies, Greg Negri with Martin Aircraft Tool Company, John S. Pitts with Tekcetera, Edward Salcedo with GCAP Services, Inc., Joan Van Karvaly with Precise Panel Engraving Co, Inc., Larry Weichman with Team Weichman/Costa Mesa Chamber Chair and Betty Jo Toccoli, President of the California Small Business Association.

Assemblyman Van Tran has long been an advocate for small businesses. During Assemblyman Tran's time in the California Legislature, he has introduced several measures to help small businesses and received 100 percent, pro-small-business voting record from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and the California Small Business Association (CSBA.) In addition, Assemblyman Tran received a perfect score from the California Chamber of Commerce on their 2009 "Job Creator" report card.

Assemblyman Van Tran has authored several measures to help small businesses allow employees to set more flexible work schedules, introducing AB 640 in 2005 and AB 141 last year. Finally successful with legislation last year, Tran co-authored AB 2X 5 which allows employees to choose from approved alternative work schedules, including a 10-hour work day, 4-days a week. Allowing the option of a 4-day workweek creates 50 extra days each year for the average full time worker to spend with family, attend children's school activities, take care of dependent elders, go to medical appointments and attend to other private affairs that often cannot be accomplished on a weekend.

Tran also introduced AB 613, which would have reviewed current state-mandated workplace posters in an attempt to simplify the posters to plain language. The plain language ensures employer compliance with labor laws and clearly informs workers of their rights.

"Small businesses are the innovators and job creators in our country," said Tran. "We need to let them grow, rather than suffocate them with more taxation and regulation."