Legislation that would create a not-for-profit venture capital firm in...

Legislation that would create a not-for-profit venture capital firm in Illinois, run by the state to invest in underserved regions, passed the state Senate and was referred to the state House Rules Committee. The bill, suggested by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, is modeled after a similar Oklahoma program, said state Sen. Don Harmon, a Democrat and a co-sponsor. The bill's chief sponsor is state Sen. President Emil Jones Jr., also a Democrat.