Micron wants public records exemption

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Micron Technology Inc. is asking lawmakers to shield tax records from the public that could provide insight into its research activities. The Boise-based semiconductor maker’s lobbyist, Mike Reynoldson, told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Tuesday that it discloses detailed information about its machinery to tax authorities every year. But it fears other companies could gain access to that data to glean proprietary information about the company — and its cutting-edge technology activities. Reynoldson’s proposal, now due a full committee hearing, would exclude those details from public records requests. Rep. Dell Raybould of Rexburg agreed Idaho needs to close this loophole to protect one of the state’s biggest employers from the prying eyes of competitors seeking advantage in the cutthroat race to produce faster, more powerful computer chips.