Andrew Thompson’s False Claim about Rep. Penzo and China
Andrew Thompson claims in a new campaign mailer he is the one who is “trusted.” Yet this supposedly trustworthy candidate FALSELY CLAIMS his opponent, Representative Clint Penzo, is “Soft on China” and “Has voted multiple times to spend money in China.”
- FACT #1: Thompson’s claim is false. Penzo did not vote to send any money to China or Chinese companies. Either this is an intentional deception by “trusted” Thompson or Thompson recklessly made the claim without bothering to read the legislation to find out what it does.
- FACT #2: Penzo has a record of fighting Communist China by kicking its programs out of our colleges and universities.
- FACT #3: Penzo also voted for stiff fines for foreign persons who try to buy Arkansas agricultural land and do not comply with the S. Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act.
Thompson (who has no record and who claims to be “trustworthy”) is challenging Representative Clint Penzo (who has a solid conservative record) for the Arkansas Senate in Senate District 31.
LETS LOOK CLOSER
FACT #1: Thompson cites three bills Rep. Penzo voted for as providing investment assistance to China. The claim is false. The bills do not send any money to any company or any country. Instead, the three bills are examples of the annual budget legislation for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Nowhere in the legislation does it direct even a penny to China or on Chinese investments. All three bills passed the House of Representatives without a single vote against them. If you are still not sure that “trusted” Thompson’s claim is false, then look at the bills for yourself: SB110 of 2019, SB65 of 2018, and SB106 of 2017.
FACT #2: Representative Penzo fought Chinese indoctrination in our state supported colleges and universities. His vote helped stop an actual problem because in the past the University of Central Arkansas has hosted a Chinese Communist Party sponsored program called the Confucius Institute. Penzo voted to stop the Chinese by voting FOR Act 1020 (SB609) of 2021 to:
- PROHIBIT state supported two- and four-year colleges and universities from hosting a Confucius Institute or any entity with an affiliation with the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, or China’s People’s Liberation Army.
- PROHIBIT the institutions from accepting gifts from foreign countries (such as China) if doing so would threaten the integrity of the institution’s research, instruction, operations, intellectual property rights, confidential information; or the safety and security of the institution; the institution’s personnel and students, the state, or the United States.
- REQUIRE the institutions to disclose all gifts from foreign countries of $250,000 or more.
- REQUIRE the institutions to disclose all contracts from foreign countries of $250,000 or more.
FACT #3: Representative Penzo fought against China and other countries that are trying to quietly buy up Arkansas agricultural land. Penzo voted FOR Act 1046 (SB314) of 2021 which imposes hefty civil fines on foreign persons failing to make required disclosures under the U.S. Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act.
Click here to learn more about Rep. Penzo’s outstanding voting record: REP. CLINT PENZO – Platform Hero Series
BOTTOM LINE – “Trusted” Thompson’s claims are FALSE.
EARLY VOTING HAS STARTED. REPUBLICAN PRIMARY MAY 24.
