Governor Pritzker Addresses Reports of Trump's Military Plan for Chicago

The **Illinois Governor** is the chief executive officer of the state of Illinois, responsible for overseeing the execution and enforcement of state laws, managing various state agencies, and guiding public policy. The governor holds significant powers, including the ability to endorse or veto legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly, grant pardons and commutations, and serve as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces when under state control[1][3]. The office is directly elected by popular vote for a four-year term with no term limits, requiring candidates to be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens, and Illinois residents for at least three years prior to election[1][2]. The current governor, **JB Pritzker**, a Democrat, assumed office on January 14, 2019, and was re-elected in 2022 with a decisive 12% margin, marking one of the strongest electoral performances for a Democratic governor in over six decades[1][6]. His tenure is noted for a dynamic and ambitious policy agenda that has substantially impacted Illinois's economy and social landscape. Key achievements include balancing the state budget annually, eliminating a multi-billion-dollar bill backlog, improving pension funding, and securing nine credit rating upgrades, which collectively helped stabilize Illinois’s fiscal health[6]. Governor Pritzker has championed significant social and economic reforms: raising the minimum wage to a living wage, making historic infrastructure investments, and fostering Illinois as a hub for advanced technologies such as electric vehicle manufacturing and quantum computing. Under his leadership, Illinois’s economy surpassed $1 trillion and the state gained top-five rankings in infrastructure and workforce development, as well as improved business climate scores by CNBC[6]. In education, Illinois now ranks among the top five states for college readiness, with its highest high school graduation rate in over a decade, free community college tuition for working-class families, and the University of Illinois recognized as a top-ten public university nationally[6]. Pritzker’s administration also advance

**World Business Chicago (WBC)** is the City of Chicago’s official economic development agency dedicated to driving inclusive economic growth, job creation, and supporting businesses in the region. Established to promote Chicago as a leading global city, WBC plays a central role in attracting new companies, facilitating corporate expansions, and retaining existing businesses within Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area, which includes seven counties[1]. WBC’s mission focuses on equitable economic development to ensure prosperity for all Chicagoans. Its vision is to make Chicago the most business-friendly city globally by serving as a model for inclusive growth. The agency targets five key industry sectors where Chicago holds competitive advantages and expects high growth over the next decade: Life Sciences and Healthcare, Food & Agtech, Transportation & Logistics, Manufacturing, and Fintech. These sectors are supported by two strategic pillars—Cleantech and Quantum Computing—highlighting WBC’s emphasis on innovation and sustainability[1]. Key initiatives run by WBC include: - **Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnerships**, fostering regional collaboration across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. - **Chicagoland Climate Investment Alliance**, which promotes climate technology innovation and sustainability. - **Talent and Workforce Development**, connecting businesses to Chicago’s rich talent pool through partnerships with educational institutions and workforce agencies. - **Chicago Sister Cities International**, which leverages Chicago’s 28 sister city relationships to enhance cultural, educational, and international business exchanges[1]. WBC operates at the intersection of public and private sectors, managing economic projects for the City and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to maintain Chicago’s competitive edge in the global economy. Its strategic focus on emerging technologies, sustainability, and talent development aligns with Chicago’s broader economic profile as a hub for manufacturing, finance, and innovation, home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and tech enterprises[1][7]. This positions WBC as a critical driver of business and technological advancement in on