Illinois Gov: Chicago Bears haven’t done enough for special session

Momentum has been building for the Chicago Bears to move to Hammond, Indiana, after the Illinois General Assembly failed to pass megaprojects legislation that would aid the team in their plans to build a new stadium at the Arlington Heights location.

The Bears have reportedly been working with Illinois lawmakers behind the scenes and are drafting their own legislation for lawmakers to pass. Ideally, the team would want Illinois to hold a special session to pass legislation that would give the Bears a break on property taxes for the Arlington Heights location.

The Bears are expected to make a decision on where to build the stadium this summer as the NFL eagerly awaits the decision.

More News: Chicago Bears: Illinois appears back in play for new stadium deal

Per Capitol News Illinois, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker suggested on Tuesday that the Bears have not given the state enough specific details for a special session to be justified. The Bears have asked for advice on the stadium bill, but not enough progress has been made with a week before the calendar hits July.

“It’s one thing to articulate generally what you want, it’s another thing to actually say ‘we’d like a provision like this or a provision like that,’” Pritzker said, via Capitol News Illinois.

Could the Bears maybe hire a team of lawyers for this?

Pritzker believes the Bears are trying to craft legislation that can pass both the House and the Senate.

“I think (the Bears are) looking at both of the bills that passed – the one in the House, the one in the Senate – hoping to put the provisions of each of those together in a form that they think will pass,” Pritzker said. “And then, of course, they need to begin conversations with members of the legislature that they weren’t able to win over before. And again, we’ve been advising and trying to help out wherever we could.”

The clock is ticking for the Bears to make a decision. While Illinois is waiting for a detailed proposal, local officials in Indiana are nervous about imposing taxes on residents to build the stadium in Lake County.

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