IVCA Provides Updates for State Legislative Issues – 07/17/2024
Illinois Venture Capital Association Illinois Legislative Report
David Stricklin / Stricklin & Associates
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
RNC CONVENTION
Illinois Republicans with a new state party chair at the helm are meeting in Milwaukee this week at the Republican National Convention.
ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS CHART COURSE
Outgoing ILGOP chair Don Tracy has pushed for mail-in ballot programs and early voting. Kathy Salvi, who is slated to replace Tracy when he officially steps down on Friday, is scheduled to address the Illinois delegation on Wednesday.
During a closed-door meeting Friday, party officials met and elected Kathy Salvi, of Mundelein, as the new chair beginning July 19, the day after the RNC concludes. Salvi, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate against Democrat Tammy Duckworth in 2022, was chosen over two other candidates for the job: state Rep. John Cabello, of Machesney Park; and Aaron Del Mar, of Palatine, a party activist who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor in 2022.
GOVERNOR MEETS WITH BEARS CEO
Governor Pritzker met with Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren this week which in the media signified perhaps a change in approach for the governor who has so far been cordial yet skeptical of the plan to build a lakefront complex for Chicago sports teams.
CEO TO CEO NOTHING MORE SAYS GOV
ILLINOIS WINS COMPUTING COMPETITION
Illinois government, technology and higher education leaders lauded the new that the federal government was investing alongside the state in a Quantum Computing proving ground.
The quantum-computing efforts planned for the Chicago area got a major boost today with the federal government agreeing to invest up to $140 million to do research here. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, plans to create a quantum-testing facility at the quantum-computing campus planned for the Chicago area. The funds will be matched by $140 million from the state.