Senator wants to give givers a break

Alicia Robinson

A donation to tsunami relief may equal a state tax break for

Californians, if state Sen. John Campbell has his way. Campbell

recently introduced a bill that would allow people who give money to

U.S.-based tsunami relief organizations to list the donations on

their 2004 state tax filings. It mirrors a piece of federal

legislation signed by President Bush last week.

“Obviously the Congress and the president did that because they

felt that it would encourage more private donations to help the

tsunami victims,” Campbell said.

“We have a high income tax here in California, and so it will be

more of an incentive for people if they can do the same thing on

their California tax returns.... I always feel it’s good to align

federal and state taxes when you can.”

If Campbell’s bill is passed, it will cover charitable

contributions to tsunami relief through Jan. 31.

He’s hoping to fast-track the bill, with a possible Senate hearing

as soon as next week.

Federal homeland security nominee and Cox old pals

There have been turf battles in Congress over homeland security,

but don’t expect friction between Rep. Chris Cox, a Newport Beach

Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, and

President Bush’s nominee to head the corresponding federal agency.

U.S. Appeals Court Judge Michael Chertoff, the nominee for

Homeland Security Department secretary, is an old law buddy of Cox’s.

“I have known Mike Chertoff for almost 30 years, since we served

together on the Harvard Law Review and, shortly afterward, practiced

law together at Latham & Watkins,” Cox said Tuesday in a statement

lauding the nomination.

Chertoff also has been a U.S. attorney and headed the criminal

division at the U.S. Department of Justice. Cox praised Chertoff’s

experience in counterterrorism and leadership skills. Chertoff still

faces confirmation by the Senate.

Transportation board features two local names

Former Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer of Newport Beach was named one

of two public representatives on the Orange County Transportation

Agency’s board of directors this week. Brewer will serve a four-year

term.

The two new public members are part of an expansion of the board

from 12 to 18 members, a change dictated by the state legislature in

2004. Also new to the transportation agency board is Costa Mesa City

Councilman Gary Monahan.

Area assemblymen take their seats on committees

Freshman GOP Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, who represents Newport

Beach, announced late last week he’s been named vice chairman of the

Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and he’s a member of the budget

committee and the revenue and taxation committee.

Assemblyman Van Tran, Costa Mesa’s representative, will serve as

vice chairman of the environmental safety and toxic substances

committee, and he was named a member of the business and professions

and the banking and finance committees.

Surfing congressman to discuss legislative goals

If your mind is full of burning questions about how Congress is

protecting you from an anthrax attack or when you’ll be able to catch

a flight to the moon, visit the Costa Mesa Community Center tonight

at 7:30 p.m. and ask Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.

The Republican congressman, who represents Costa Mesa, will hold a

town hall meeting to talk briefly about his legislative goals and

answer constituents’ questions.

Rohrabacher’s office mailed notices of the meeting to every voter

in his district, but for those who missed theirs, the Costa Mesa

Community Center is at 1845 Park Ave.