With the recent election of a new governor and state officials, and the upcoming municipal election, this is a critical period for our business community. It is more important than ever that we stay informed and actively participate in a process that will shape the future of our city and state.
The Chicagoland Chamber remains optimistic about our region’s future, and we’re looking forward to working with all of our elected officials to reinvigorate our economy and address the challenges we face. Here are some important events to keep in mind over the next few weeks:
- February 4, 2015: The Governor’s State of the State Address
- February 18, 2015: The Governor’s Budget Address
- February 24, 2015: Municipal Elections
We will be releasing timely statements on each of these important events with the goal of keeping you well informed on the issues and their implications for you and your business.
We have identified several important issues to address in collaboration with our new Governor, state legislators and elected city officials, including:
- Pension reform
- Business-friendly tax reforms
- The next step in workers’ compensation reform
- Improvements to our transportation infrastructure
- Affordable education and workforce training opportunities
Mark Segal, Chair of the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee, joined a panel of experts Monday on WBEZ's Morning Shift to
evaluate Mayor Emanuel’s performance on jobs and the economy, giving the Mayor a “B” grade. The Chicagoland Chamber will continue to keep a close watch and weigh in when needed as the 2015 municipal elections approach. As always, we encourage our members to vote so that the voice of our business community is heard.
To celebrate election day, we will be hosting “Politics on Tap! Business After Business Networking” at O’Briens Restaurant in Old Town. I urge anyone interested to join us to see the votes roll in, network and cheer on your favorite candidates with friends and colleagues on Tuesday, February 24.
Theresa E. Mintle
President & CEO
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce