NEW: Republicans cheer spending from bill they opposed — again

“A spokesperson for Williams did not respond to a request for comment.”

A new report in E&E News calls out MAGA extremist Brandon Williams for mocking the CHIPS and Science Act on the campaign trail in 2022 and then promptly flip-flopping on his stance after it was revealed that the bipartisan bill could bring billions of dollars in investments and create thousands of jobs in New York’s 22nd Congressional District.

On the campaign trail, Williams branded the CHIPS and Science Act as a “corporate welfare package.” But following the passage of this historic legislation, Micron announced it would invest up to $100 billion to build a computer chip factory in NY-22’s Clay, the largest single private investment in New York’s history. Micron’s CEO said of the factory plans, “There is no doubt that without the CHIPS Act, we would not be here today.”

Read more on Brandon Williams’ blatant hypocrisy below. 

E&E: Republicans cheer spending from bill they opposed — again
Emma Dumain | November 28, 2023

KEY POINTS: 

• Several Republicans who voted against the CHIPS and Science Act are taking credit for the bill’s support for tech hubs, many of which are devoted to energy and environmental issues.

• As next year’s elections approach, Democrats are planning to remind voters which party was the driving force behind programs to compete with China and address the climate crisis.

• The CHIPS and Science Act included a $50 billion authorization for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and pumped billions of dollars to help U.S. manufacturers produce the semiconductors and chips necessary for electric cars and other clean tech.

• It also created a program to fund Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs, which will compete for up to $75 million to develop and implement projects to “supercharge a critical technology ecosystem.”

• At the time of the tech hubs announcement last month, the DCCC put out a statement under the heading, “REMINDER: [Rep.] Brandon Williams Derided the CHIPS and Science Act Until It Became Politically Expedient.”

• The New York Republican, now in his first term in Congress, on the campaign trail in 2022 slammed the legislation as a “corporate welfare package for the profitable chip industry.”

• Since that time, he has praised semiconductor manufacturing company Micron’s multibillion-dollar investment for a computer chip factory in his district.

• Of the NY SMART I-Corridor announcement, Williams said he was “honored to build on the success” of local leaders in making central New York “a magnet of innovation and technological advancement.”

• “MAGA extremist Brandon Williams derided legislation bringing billions of dollars in investment and creating good-paying jobs for New York’s 22nd Congressional District,” DCCC spokesperson Ellie Dougherty said in response. “Central New Yorkers aren’t fooled.”

• A spokesperson for Williams did not respond to a request for comment.

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