Kevin McCarthy, Brandon Williams Make a Show of Visiting Factory Bolstered by Legislation They Both Opposed
New Yorkers Need Politicians Whose Interest in Creating New, Well-Paying Jobs Starts with Policy, Not Pomp
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK — Last Wednesday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Brandon Williams toured JMA Wireless’ new 5G equipment factory before attending a high-dollar fundraiser for Williams’ reelection campaign. The politicians held up JMA Wireless as an example of American companies building critical technology in the United States. While it's nice for McCarthy and Williams to show up to celebrate the successes of a policy they opposed, New Yorkers need politicians whose interest in creating new, well-paying jobs starts with policy, not pomp.
Here’s what you should know:
McCarthy and Williams have both opposed key legislation helping to create jobs and boost industry in upstate New York.
Kevin McCarthy voted against the CHIPS and Science Act, while Brandon Williams attacked it as a “corporate welfare package” from the campaign trail.
The CHIPS Act contains $1.5 billion for research and development in 5G technology, which JMA Wireless stands to benefit from. JMA founder and CEO John Mezzalingua even attended the bill signing for the legislation.
The CHIPS Act was also essential in spurring Micron Technologies' plan to build a semiconductor plant in nearby Clay, NY, which is projected to create 50,000 jobs in the region over the next 20 years.
JMA Wireless says that the “buy American” provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Kevin McCarthy also voted against, will boost its business and support at least 200 jobs at the new factory.
Prerna Deer, Regional Organizing Director for Empire State Voices, released this statement:
“It’s one thing to oppose legislation that helps create jobs in communities like Syracuse, but to show up and expect praise and credit for legislation they opposed is an insult to working New Yorkers who know better. We’ll thank Speaker McCarthy and Rep. Williams when they come back with policies that actually help everyday New Yorkers, not just their wealthy donors.”
To learn more about the campaign, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
###
About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
