Pritzker’s Davos pitch
Friday, Jan 20, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Capitol News Illinois…
After his second-term inauguration amid a frenzied “lame duck” legislative session last week, Gov. JB Pritzker took the global stage this week at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
The governor and high-ranking members of his staff joined a bipartisan delegation of U.S. politicians and world business leaders with the goal of “promoting Illinois as a major player on the world stage,” Pritzker said in a call Thursday morning with media outlets back home.
In particular, Pritzker touted Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, or CEJA – which aims to make Illinois’ energy grid reliant on 100 percent renewable sources by 2050 – and the $45 billion capital infrastructure plan known as Rebuild Illinois. […]
On Tuesday, Pritzker visited the Wieland manufacturing facility in Vöhringen, Germany, an industry leader in manufacturing and converting copper and copper alloys.
Wieland currently has eight locations in Illinois, including in East Alton where the governor recently visited.
It’s an interesting piece, so go read the rest.
* During his press conference the other day, Pritzker was asked which business leaders he met with to convince them to expand to Illinois…
I mentioned some of the larger tech players that are here. And an example of that is that I met with Microsoft and their leadership here. There are other large foreign entities that are here from Asia, as well as from Europe, battery manufacturers, people who are in the development of hydrogen, we’re, as you know, we’re part of a hydrogen hub, that we are partnered on for the Midwest. And so we want to bring players in hydrogen energy to the Midwest. So I really, I’ve been at, I don’t know how many events and meetings throughout each day, and at each one of those I have spoken with, directly with company leaders, as well as with ministers from various governments.
I sat last night with the Swiss ambassador to the United States, as well as the US Ambassador to Switzerland, for, I don’t know, we were at dinner, sitting next to each other for two hours talking about the opportunity to enhance, we already have Swiss businesses in Illinois, but how do we enhance both those existing businesses create jobs, and more productivity or more, more GDP rather? And then how do we attract more business? For example, Nestle is a business that is resident in Illinois. And so this happens that the former, sorry, the current Swiss ambassador to the United States, is a former Nestle executive, and the CEO of Nestle was at one of the meetings that I was at today. So those are examples of companies. But it’s really quite a lot. I mean, I, as you can imagine, you collect cards and take notes and I don’t think I could recite all of them to you now, but that those are good, big examples.
I cleaned up the transcript a little to make it more readable. He said “you know” a lot more than usual.
* From the governor’s opening remarks…
My team and I have spent the last few days having very important conversations with world leaders and putting Illinois as a major player on the world stage, talking to businesses that are here, including major tech companies as well as other industrial players. We’ve made it very clear that when looking for nation-leading legislation, and leadership on fighting climate change and clean energy development, that you don’t need to stop at the coastal states. We’re making significant progress and passing bold legislation that impacts our state and our region and the nation, and really the world in real and tangible ways.
I would remind everybody on this call, as I remind people here at Davos, that Illinois would be around the 19th largest economy in the world if we were an independent country. And so we would be a member of G20 if we were independent. And we have a major economy even though we are the fifth largest economy in the among the 50 United States. We’ve been a pivotal leader on clean energy, the signing of the Climate and Equitable JOBS Act and the REV Act are just examples of that. We’re continuing to prioritize clean sustainable growth through our infrastructure as a main tenant of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. Our state committed to 100% clean energy by 2050. That’s an important calling card here. And of course, we’re hoping to put a million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 in Illinois, and we’re actually taking substantive steps to make that and those several goals happen.
We’re also leading the way on responsible gun control. Just last week, I signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act into law, making Illinois the not the first not the second but the ninth state in the nation to institute an assault weapons ban, very much like several of the other states that already have them. And despite the outcry from the gun lobby and those that they fund, this law will make millions of Illinoisans safer, protecting them from constantly living in fear of becoming a statistic in potentially the next mass shooting that splashes across our headlines.
Of course, that’s only part of what’s so great about Illinois. And I always say I am the state’s best chief marketing officer. And I’m making sure that people know about our leadership on safeguarding reproductive rights ,on our focus on fiscal responsibility, our booming manufacturing sector, and the fact that we are full of brilliant talent from our world class universities and our nation leading, third largest in the nation community college system. And so much more than that we’re leading in. We have, we are number six in our K-12 education system in the country, according to US News. And there’s a lot to offer in terms of the talent of the people of Illinois. So I’m really glad to have been invited here to Switzerland to talk about the great state of Illinois, the great people who live in Illinois and make sure that people on the world stage are aware. And I can’t wait to come home and take what we’ve learned here and the connections that we’ve made to make our state even stronger
Your thoughts?
- Just Me 2 - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:23 am:
J.B. and company have zero plans to attract employers to Illinois. They have a lot of hope, but hope is not a plan. Every time an employer leaves they say it isn’t a big deal, but when an employer comes they shout it from the rooftops as if it is earth shattering. He’s so rich he doesn’t have a clue how most businesses operate and the struggles they face, and most Democrats have never had to worry about making payroll.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:28 am:
===Democrats have never had to worry about making payroll.===
Only Republicans own businesses?
That’s doubtful. Got stats to that?
===zero plans to attract employers to Illinois===
Doesn’t Illinois have that slush fund? Or is that not a thing?
===he doesn’t have a clue how most businesses operate and the struggles they face===
Wasn’t 1871 an incubator to help upstart businesses and in that help meet the challenges of starting a business too?
Hmm.
- 1st Ward - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:30 am:
When will JB and others stop taking gas guzzling private jets across the world to talk about climate change and renewables? Gas stoves bad; gas guzzling private jets good? But in seriousness seems like European leaders are very upset about the inflation reduction act and ‘nearshoring’ of supply chains that the US is promoting. Likely going to be tough to get European businesses to expand in or to the US in the near-term until these issues are resolved. Maybe some Asia or LatAm companies will expand in/to the US and hopefully Illinois
- SWSider - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:32 am:
To me, the biggest Illinois news to come out of Davos was huge unwillingness to push for a graduated income tax.
The state desperately needs it and if a two term gov who just cruised to re-election and has a super-duper majority in both houses won’t do it… I don’t feel great about the state’s future.
Perhaps I had too high expectations, but I didn’t think the idea would be whole sale dismissed.
- Blue Bayou - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:33 am:
Yeah, because business genius Bruce Rauner had great plans and did so much to grow IL.
Even if JB accomplishes a few things he’ll be head and shoulders above our nearly unbeaten streak of terrible governors.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:34 am:
===I didn’t think the idea would be whole sale dismissed. ===
It was roundly dismissed by voters just a couple of years ago. Gigantic missed opportunity and a failure at multiple levels. Coming at them again after just four years doesn’t make a lot of sense.
- Just Me 2 - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:39 am:
OW - your comments have proven my point, and I’m going to continue to assume that will continue to confuse you which proves my point further so I’ll give you a hint: an incubator doesn’t make payroll or pay debt through the sale of a product to a customer.
Just look at J.B.’s comments. He doesn’t say anything about how businesses can thrive and grow in Illinois. He doesn’t say anything about how a business can grow and be profitable in Illinois.
- Jibba - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:42 am:
Man, people will complain about anything, amirite? I would have praised Rauner for doing this had he the constitutional ability to do so.
I don’t know if things like this bear immediate fruit, but I’d much rather have my governor taking a swing at bat than sitting at home.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:43 am:
Just Me 2-
You want Pritzker to do payroll for them as well?
- ChicagoVinny - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:46 am:
== Democrats have never had to worry about making payroll. ==
I’m going to tread carefully to avoid a ban. As a Democrat who has owned a business with 50+ employees and has made payroll with no problems for nearly nine years, I resent this comment.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:49 am:
ChicagoVinny-
Genius will now tell you he said “most” Democrats.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:50 am:
===your comments have proven my point===
lol, I did no such thing, and where are your stats on only Republicans owning and/or running businesses?
===an incubator doesn’t make payroll or pay debt through the sale of a product to a customer.===
Their mission?
“1871 is a nonprofit located in the historic Merchandise Mart. The diversity and density of our community creates the conditions for both calculated and fortunate collisions of success between early stage, growth stage, corporate innovators, and community members. As a member, you will know how to build the right product in the right way, learn where you are in your founder’s journey, and discover what you need to tackle next.”
Preparing innovators to get to where a business can grow and after growth what that means, prolly including hiring, sales, marketing… it’s like you devalue leading to build… business. That’s an odd take, given how often business mea fail. Don’t you want businesses to grow here, start here, stay here? Welp? 1871 dies that. Again, an odd take.
===Just look at J.B.’s comments. He doesn’t say anything about how businesses can thrive and grow in Illinois. He doesn’t say anything about how a business can grow and be profitable in Illinois.===
And?
You may not like the message/messaging but he’s the governor and doing what he (and his staff and crew) thinks is thoughtful to the audience and the goal(s), all the while none of us know exactly is going on behind the scenes.
You can cite that Republicans are the only owners or run businesses fact at anytime too.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:51 am:
JB is a skilled spokesperson and he is very professional in his representation of IL Illinois at Davos. But reading his comment it sounds like more hobnobbing than closing deals.
- Trap - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 9:52 am:
I wonder how his commercial flight to Davos was. Hash tag climate hypocrite.
- Norseman - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:03 am:
It’s so great to have a governor who is touting the benefits of the state instead of trashing it.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:05 am:
=But reading his comment it sounds like more hobnobbing than closing deals.=
Isn’t that what Davos is about? Hobnobbing? Serious question, I never thought it was about closing specific deals but more about promoting.
=I wonder how his commercial flight to Davos was. Hash tag climate hypocrite.=
Are commercial airliners fueled by sunshine and smiles? Not much of a difference. I try to be environmentally conscious and have traveled on the airlines, I would take a private jet in a heartbeat.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:06 am:
When the best gripe you can make is one’s choice of transportation maybe leave it alone.
- The Biggest Loser - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:07 am:
I wonder what he’s most proud of with CEJA. Is it the job losses for non-college educated people? Is it the massive and unaffordable spikes in electric bills for people south of I-80? Is it the giveaways to ComEd? Is it the threats of black and brownouts due to lack of baseload generation? I wonder how he feels about the huge increases coming for Ameren customers. You won’t hear a word about how that impacts the working families he pretends to care about. JB hops on his private jet to go lecture the world on climate change while people in his state are suffering trying to afford energy, gas, and food.
- TooManyJens - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:10 am:
I’d imagine that one thing he’s proud of would be that generating our electricity from renewable sources will make us less vulnerable to price shocks from things like the war in Ukraine.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:11 am:
“Job losses for non college educated people ”
Bub, that’s been happening for a half century.
I know plumbers with B.A.s.
- Dan Johnson - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:13 am:
That’s a good line: we’d be in the G20 if we were our own country.
- Cool Papa Bell - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:14 am:
=Pritzker’s spokeswoman says the billionaire governor will not be flying by private plane.=
I wouldn’t care if he took one or not, but its clearly time to drop this factually wrong talking point.
- cermak_rd - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:22 am:
The higher the educational attainment, the lower the unemployment rate, been that way for a while.
However, it would be interested to see that broken down by skillset. I can’t imagine a lot of skilled welders (oh how these are coveted by my employer–we wind up training our own), skilled carpenters or skilled tool and die cutters being unemployed.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:29 am:
I can’t figure out who is more out of touch.
The elites and billionaires who actually claim globalization has improved the standard of living for the American worker or the politicians who think their inflation reduction act will reduce the inflation caused by massive increases in government spending.
JB is in both groups
- Arsenal - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:38 am:
==Every time an employer leaves they say it isn’t a big deal, but when an employer comes they shout it from the rooftops as if it is earth shattering.==
As he should. You guys got four years of your “everything sucks and the good news sucks even worse” Governor and he was a massive failure that has sunk his party and your ideas in the state for a generation.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:39 am:
According to Gallup polling small business people are overwhelmingly Republican
https://news.gallup.com/poll/284396/small-business-owners-highly-engaged-2020-election.aspx
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/11/30/small-business-confidence-hits-all-time-low-after-biden-election.html
Billionaire elites gathering in Davis tend to be overwhelmingly Democrats
- Torco Sign - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:45 am:
I see Pritzker running into some pitfalls with progressives:
1) as mentioned, not using political capital on graduated income tax
2) wooing big tech means making some concessions bound to probably not look good
3) Nestle is notoriously bad with environmentalists
- supplied_demand - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:45 am:
==I can’t imagine a lot of skilled welders (oh how these are coveted by my employer–we wind up training our own), skilled carpenters or skilled tool and die cutters being unemployed. ==
To add, the most skilled welder I know has a college degree.
- Gruntled University Employee - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:46 am:
==I know plumbers with B.A.s. ==
I’ve worked with Pipe Fitters that are licensed Mechanical Engineers, the pay and benefits are better.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 10:56 am:
===running into some pitfalls with progressives===
Concern trolling noted.
- Cool Papa Bell - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 11:14 am:
=The elites and billionaires who actually claim globalization has improved the standard of living for the American worker=
3% of the world’s population lives in the US - 97% of consumers live somewhere else. People who need to buy food, services and manufactured goods.
As one example farmers in Illinois send the majority of their crop overseas. So sure globalization is bad. Guess it would be better to have millions of acres of farm land in the state idle.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 11:17 am:
===According to Gallup polling small business people are overwhelmingly Republican===
The polling was to an election of Trump… Trump…
This has nothing to party affiliations or that all business owners are Republicans
It’s odd data to prove a point that no one asked.
- levivotedforjudy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 12:00 pm:
From my perch, what Team JB is doing to set us up as EV, quantum computing and innovation destinations is the most structured strategic approach to targeting industries I have since since Jim Thompson.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 12:01 pm:
===billionaires who actually claim globalization===
Oh - LP -, why hide behind your “meaning” with… globalists…
It’s, well, interesting.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 12:02 pm:
=It’s odd data to prove a point that no one asked.=
Nearly 100% of republicans are republicans.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 12:03 pm:
===Nearly 100% of republicans are republicans.===
You win.
Also, thanks.
- ZC - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 12:14 pm:
One challenge IL / Chicago has always faced, is we don’t have our own sort of homegrown ridiculously lucrative industry (Wall Street, Hollywood, Silicon Valley) that we can tax a small slice of and reap megabucks from, nor are we sitting on top of a lake of oil. And people may start moving here for the weather sometime in the 21st century, but we’re not there yet.
So just sort of going around and beating the bushes for investments and businesses, even if it results in a few singles, that’s probably a good use of a relatively small chunk of time.
- Steve - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 12:16 pm:
-which aims to make Illinois’ energy grid reliant on 100 percent renewable sources by 2050 -
“which aims”…
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
- The elites and billionaires who actually claim globalization has improved the standard of living for the American worker -
This is a real howler coming from Bruce Rauner’s biggest groupie. Dude would have offshored your Capfax handle if there was a nickel in it for him.
- Jerry - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 1:00 pm:
One huge asset for Chicago/IL: a source of fresh water.
- ZC - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 1:39 pm:
>> One huge asset for Chicago/IL: a source of fresh water.
Undoubtedly, but that’s maybe down the line (and grim to think about).
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 1:53 pm:
The EV companies are investing in other states, not Illinois. This is not a success story for JB.
Plenty of good paying jobs coming to the residents of Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee not Michigan and Illinois are forg
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/07/states-spend-billions-on-evs-to-replace-automotive-capital-michigan.html
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 1:58 pm:
===The EV companies are investing in other states, not Illinois. This is not a success story…===
Then why should the Bears get any help to stay in Chicago or Illinois as you say it should be.
You wrote that …
“Chicago is a world class city/ region and should start acting like it …”
Which is it? Chicago is a world class city/region or Illinois and this region is bad?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 2:04 pm:
Oh.
- LP -, I’ll complete your thought, which is interesting since you talk down Illinois… but…
=== - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 3:13 pm
…
Chicago is a world class city/ region and should start acting like it and not play second fiddle to Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Detroit in the Midwest.===
Why the change of heart?
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 2:47 pm:
Yes it is a World Class City but the problems are huge and getting worse.
Do you think the city is being run right? There was a Mayoral debate on WLS last night.
The candidates all said crime was a huge issue and taxes were too high.
None of them were Republicans but they were all stating the facts not “talking down”
Check it out it out
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 2:53 pm:
===Yes it is a World Class City but===
That’s all really… it just reinforces your entire existence as an utter phony to your own negativity.
This is merely ONE instance where to talk down Illinois or Chicago, yet, for things like the Bears getting dough to build a building, “gosh, Chicago is world class”
See, the governor is trying to keep those who bad mouth Chicago in your place, if you can choose one… either Chicago is world class or it’s not.
Thighs can always be better, improvement is needed and necessary
Not one Republican has decided to run (I mean Vallas is the “Back the Blue” guy, so…) yet Republicans continually complain and lob “here are the answers”… while dog whistling “families without fathers” like Jeanne Ives.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 3:12 pm:
Will the Governor condemn all of the Democratic challengers for Mayor for being “utter phonies to their own negativity” for talking down Chicago?
Sad you think only Republicans back the blue.
You certainly don’t have your finger on the pulse of Chicago residents from your perch in Oswego
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 3:37 pm:
===Will the Governor condemn all of the Democratic challengers for Mayor for being “utter phonies to their own negativity” for talking down Chicago?===
So you admitting you are a phony to your own feelings of being aggrieved is the only way your child-like whatabouting could make sense.
===Sad you think only Republicans back the blue.===
Are the blue backing Democrats on a consistent basis?
You ask the wrong questions. Constantly. Purposely. Comically.
===You certainly don’t have your finger on the pulse of Chicago residents from your perch in Oswego===
Meh. You seem to think the “town” you live in is “World Class” only if it means a corporate grift that you usually say can’t work because of “pensions and debt”
My address is seemingly all you are pinning on in hopes that it’s not notice you aren’t honest to any real position but to be aggrieved?
You should revisit this post by Rich.
It explains your own thinking… even to this current post.
https://capitolfax.com/2022/12/08/gop-pollster-the-republican-strategy-of-screaming-the-sky-is-falling-and-all-is-lost-is-clearly-not-working/
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 4:08 pm:
You need a new hobby, something else to obsess about
I also find it odd that Democrat candidates for mayor who don’t support the police complaining about crime being out of control on Chicago.
Crime has escalated with increased restrictions on policing as well as failures to pursue criminals.
You and the Democratic legislature supported the Pritzker 400 million dollar slush fund aka corporate grift
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 4:20 pm:
===Democrat candidates===
That’s adorable.
“Democrat”… still no Republican candidate… but…
===You and the Democratic legislature===
Where do you think that Bears money you want so bad… LOL
===who don’t support the police===
Republicans seem to support police, but not the Capitol police during insurrections…
You have a candidate for mayor, like your support of Bailey’s policies?
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 4:29 pm:
Again obsess on someone else like maybe someone in power who could actually change the failed policies
They are many people from both parties who are concerned about the issues I have highlighted
Rising violent crime, car jackings, thefts, shootings ,corporate headquarters and the Bears leaving Chicago, urban youth out of work and not in school, gangs in the drug business terrorizing Chicago, unsafe public transit, a state’s attorneys office hemoraging prosecutors, rising property taxes etc
Strange how everything is coming up roses for you
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 20, 23 @ 4:47 pm:
===Rising violent crime, car jackings, thefts, shootings ,corporate headquarters and the Bears leaving Chicago, urban youth out of work and not in school, gangs in the drug business terrorizing Chicago, unsafe public transit, a state’s attorneys office hemoraging prosecutors, rising property taxes etc
Strange how everything is coming up roses for you===
Yep… you are who you are…
“GOP pollster: ‘The Republican strategy of screaming “the sky is falling” and “all is lost” is clearly not working’”
Meanwhile, the governor is trying to work to market Illinois, as you bad mouth it… again… and again.