Idaho delegation celebrates Micron expansion. Where were they when we needed them?

Last week, the state of Idaho — and the Treasure Valley in particular — got some excellent news. Micron will build a new memory manufacturing plant, an investment of $15 billion in the local economy. It’s expected to bring 2,000 permanent jobs with the company — jobs with good wages that can support a middle-class life — along with about 15,000 other jobs that will be created as a knock-on effect.

No one was happier to hear this news than Idaho’s congressional delegation. They issued a joint news release praising the investment in local jobs.

“Congratulations to all the employees at Micron on this announcement as Idaho continues to lead the way in semiconductor innovation and success,” said Sen. Jim Risch.

“This expansion is valuable to our state, workforce and economy,” said Sen. Mike Crapo.

“I am thrilled to hear the news that Micron will be building such a critical facility for U.S. national and economic security here in Idaho,” said Rep. Mike Simpson.

“As an early employee of Micron, it has been remarkable to see their lasting impact on Idaho’s success,” said Rep. Russ Fulcher.

That’s the natural reaction to such good news, but there was something strange about it.

As many quickly pointed out, Idaho’s entire congressional delegation voted against the CHIPS Act, legislation that enabled Micron’s expansion through tax credits and other incentives meant to reinvigorate the domestic semiconductor industry and end dependence on imports from China.

It’s hardly a coincidence that Micron announced its large investment in Idaho just weeks after the CHIPS Act was signed into law.

The CHIPS Act was written by Democrats, but it got widespread Republican support — enough to overcome the Senate filibuster that a small number of Republicans used to try to stop it. In all, 17 Republican senators and 24 Republican House members supported the bipartisan bill. There was support in Missouri, Alaska, West Virginia, Utah, Kansas — all over the red parts of the map. But not one vote from Idaho.

There’s something worse than hypocrisy going on here. One of the virtues of the American system of government is supposed to be that it is geographically representative. This is supposed to be the reason that Idaho has as many senators as California: you wouldn’t want the interests of Californians to totally swamp the interests of Idahoans.

But this presumes that these representatives’ first loyalty will be to their home district, not their political party. There was no clearer beneficiary from the CHIPS Act than Idaho. Roughly half of Idaho’s total manufacturing exports are computer chips, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Indeed, chips are on par with, though a bit behind, agricultural products. Idaho exports more value in microchips than in potatoes.

But none of that mattered when it came time to vote on a key piece of industrial policy for Idaho. Where the CHIPS Act was concerned, it seems our delegation forgot where they come from.

Imagine you’re on your way to your family’s Thanksgiving dinner. A few miles away, your car breaks down. You call your uncle to ask for a ride.

“I have bigger priorities,” he says.

So you put out your thumb, and a stranger stops to get you into town, and then you walk a few miles to get to the dinner. When you get there, that same uncle gives you a big hug.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” he says. “We are so happy to see you.”

“Where were you when I needed you?” you would surely reply.

This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 4:00 AM.