Now that Democrat JB Pritzker is governor, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association President and CEO Mark Denzler wants to pick his battles carefully.

Denzler, who has been at IMA’s helm for only a few months after years of working under former leader Greg Baise, has long advocated for pro-business reforms, and is well-known for his ideas for overhauling Illinois’ workers’ compensation system.

But in introducing IMA’s six-bill legislative agenda Tuesday, workers’ compensation reform was nowhere to be found.  

“There are interest groups that have no interest in working on this, and I just don’t think we’re going to have any action in the House or Senate so we’re trying to focus on things where we can have movement this year,” Denzler said at a Capitol news conference.

Instead of expending time and energy drafting legislation and lobbying on workers’ comp bills this session, the group is turning its attention to both measures with the potential for bipartisan support, and fighting against any progressive ideas coming from the governor’s office.