The Bears battle progressed Wednesday night. An amendment to a bill directing how the state can help the Bears stay in Illinois has been filed in Springfield.
The amendment proposed by Chicago-area state Rep. Kam Buckner outlines the infrastructure tax credits the state would offer to entice the Bears to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, where the McCaskey family already owns the old Arlington Raceway.
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House Bill 910, the revised megaprojects bill that was scheduled to be heard last week but was canceled at the last minute, is expected to be introduced in a committee meeting in Springfield Thursday morning and may even make it to the Legislature for a vote.
Governor JB Pritzker had strong words in an interview with MS NOW on Wednesday night.
“I’m not going to be swayed by the Bears, I’ve laid out some very clear guidelines, and my guidelines are we’re not going to let the Bears do this and shortchange the taxpayers of the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said. “If we do something to support the Bears that we’re working so hard for, it’s not going to cost our taxpayers the way it’s going to cost the taxpayers of Indiana.”
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Meanwhile, Indiana lawmakers are expected to send their own bill to the governor on Thursday that would clear the way for Hammond Stadium funding.
“They’re going to raise … taxes and I don’t think the people of Indiana know what they’re doing, they’re going to pay for a stadium for the Chicago Bears,” Pritzker said.
Indiana House lawmakers approved a bill to build a $1 billion stadium for Hammond. The bill will now go to the state Senate and then to the governor.
While the Bears have scouted the Wolf Lake site, the team has yet to commit.
“Here in Illinois, we continue to have very positive discussions with the Bears, and I think over time you’ll see progress here,” said Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
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If the Indiana Senate passes the bill as expected, it will go directly to the governor’s desk for his signature.
“The level of excitement in the Northwest Indiana region is at an all-time high. Every time we check another box, everyone gets more excited about this opportunity,” said Phil Taillon of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is launching an online petition to keep the Bears in Illinois.
Quinn will appear in front of the George Halas statue in front of Soldier Field to promote the Beardownforillinois.com petition.
He said he hopes fans will unite and tell the owners to keep the team in Illinois.
In the battle outside the city, the city of Chicago is also technically still trying to hold on to the Bears.