GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Assemblyman Văn Trần pledged this week to return his mandatory salary increase to local charities and criticized the Citizens Compensation Commission for recommending such an increase in a time of overwhelming budget deficits.

''Sacramento’s majority party’s reluctance to pass laws to help the California taxpayer is made more galling by how easily our legislators accept laws that help themselves,'' Trần said. ''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.''

In July of this year, the obscure commission voted unanimously to give the Legislature a 2.75 percent salary increase or $3,110-a-year raise, boosting lawmakers’ annual pay to $116,208. Their action increases the distinction the state already held as home to the highest paid legislators in the nation.

''I think having the Commission set salaries takes responsibility away from Legislators. I believe the people of California elected me to the Assembly with a salary already set. Just like I turned down the salary increase in 2006,'' Trần said, ''my intention is to contribute the net increase to a charity.''