Speaker Mike Johnson backtracks, saying the GOP would “probably” try to repeal the CHIPS Act

CNN
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House Speaker Mike Johnson may have put a significant dent in the reelection hopes of one of Congress’ most vulnerable incumbents on Friday, later retracting his comments saying he would consider repealing the CHIPS law.

The Louisiana Republican said in a statement that the CHIPS Act “is not on the agenda for repeal” after telling reporters earlier in the day during a campaign stop in Syracuse, New York, that Republicans will “probably” try to repeal the semiconductor chip manufacturing package if they get Congress and former President Donald Controlling Trump wins the White House.

“As I have further explained and clarified, I fully support Micron coming to Central New York, and the CHIPS Act is not scheduled for repeal,” Johnson said. “Rather, legislation could be introduced to further streamline and improve the bill’s primary goal – eliminating costly regulations and Green New Deal requirements.”

Johnson was campaigning with Rep. Brandon Williams at the time of his comments, and Williams — who faces a tough challenge from Democratic Secretary of State John Mannion — intervened to say he would “remind Johnson day and night how important the CHIPS Act is” while Micron is preparing to break ground on a factory in New York.

Williams said in a statement later Friday that he “spoke privately with the chairman immediately after the event. He apologized profusely and said he had misunderstood the question.

The CHIPS and Science Act was past in 2022 and will invest more than $200 billion over five years to help the US regain a leading position in semiconductor chip manufacturing. The new funding was intended to help companies bring chip manufacturing back to the US and, as a result, help reduce costs and avoid supply chain disruptions. The legislation is poised to bring a $100 billion microchip manufacturing center to the area where Johnson campaigned with Williams.

Earlier Friday, Johnson was asked by a reporter from Citrus TV News“The former president has said he does not support the CHIPS and Sciences Act. You voted against. If you have a Republican majority in Congress and Trump in the White House, will you try to repeal that law?”

“I expect that probably will be the case, but we haven’t developed that part of the agenda yet,” Johnson said. “We have to get the elections behind us first and that’s why we’re so happy to be on New York’s 22nd. Brandon Williams is one of the most important races in the country and that’s why Democrats are spending millions and millions and millions of dollars to dethrone him.”

After Williams defended the CHIPS Act, which he described as having “tremendous impact here,” Johnson then said, “If you have an issue that requires consensus building, because different states have different perspectives on these issues, you need someone who is strongly in favor of that legislation. People listen to Brandon Williams. If that’s important to your district, you need this guy to make that case.”

Johnson later said his objection to the CHIPS Act was related to other programs included in the bill. “We are going to support chip production, we are not supporting the Green New Deal. If you separate those two things, it becomes a lot easier,” he said.

Democrats immediately pounced on the blunder. The “Kamala HQ” account on

“In Congress, I will defend CHIPS and Science and ensure investments continue to come to (Central New York) and the Mohawk Valley,” Mannion wrote.

Williams was not yet in Congress when the bill was passed, but criticized it during the 2022 campaign.