Best of the Bears: Stadium legislation discussions continue with Illinois lawmakers
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
If the legislature can get, you know, together on one piece of legislation, we absolutely could do that. But, you know, I think that there's some time I, you know, we'll see. But I think that there's some time to do that. Of course, we'll be in a session, as you know, about four or five months from now. And so it may be that and as you know, that these things, especially in Indiana, where they haven't decided even on a location. in Indiana. And the one principal location they've been focused on is one that has a lot of toxic waste and other things that they've got to remediate. So none of that is going to happen quickly. And I'm not suggesting that we want to wait. I'm just saying they've got to figure out how they can get the legislature, both sides, around the same bill.
And I would be happy to call a special session. By the way, so too can the leaders of the legislature call a special session.
Mully and Haw 1043. The score, that is the voice of Governor J.B. Pritzker talking about the Bears from a little while ago. And we had a big report yesterday come out from Politico where they talked about the Bears actually working on legislation. writing it themselves apparently and we are delighted to welcome in state representative cam buckner to the program he joins us on the plumbers 9-1-1 hotline plumbing emergency call 1-833-PLUM-911 local 130 plumbers get the job done right the first time good morning representative buckner how are you this morning
Good morning, Molly, and how happy NBA draft day. I'm doing well, man.
You got a player you're looking for? We're all over Caleb Wilson right now.
Hey, I think that this may be a two-caliber town.
I think there's enough. We don't need an ordinance for that, do we? So I think definitely you look forward to tonight. But we want to talk to you about the latest in the Bear Stadium situation because yesterday it seemed to be the report was very enlightening. They talked about Politico reported that the Bears are crafting some language themselves as part of the legislation. And if there could be some negotiations behind the scenes getting close to a deal, then it would be possible to call a special session if the deal looks like it's imminent. What can you tell us about the validity of that report and where things stand in terms of the Bears working on legislation to stay in Illinois?
Yeah, I've been clear even since the Hammond announcement, quote unquote, that there were still conversations going on between the organization and the state of Illinois. And those conversations do continue. I think if you go back and you look at what they said a few weeks ago, it wasn't anything that was conclusive, right? They didn't say we're done here, we're moving forward. And so those conversations have continued and they've continued in earnest. There's been calls for a special session. But as Governor Pritzker said in your bumper segment, that we've got to be able to agree on a deal before we call a special session. That has to happen first. But we've got some time to figure that out and to get there.
So I think that we are moving. in the right direction. The new report is that the Bears are working on their own piece of legislation for this, which I think makes all the sense in the world. As you guys know, in a former life, I did government affairs for the Chicago Cubs during the Liberty Fair renovation project. And we didn't ask the city council to give us a plan. We brought a plan to them. And some things they said yes to, other things they said no to, and we worked our way through it. But that's the way this thing works. And so I think we're in a good kind of portion of this conversation.
It might be irrelevant right now, Cam, but why didn't this happen before then? If this is the way that you know it works best, if this is your experiences as it was with the Cubs, and that's a great reference, but I just have to wonder, my first reaction to that is like, why did this not happen sooner if you knew this was the best way to get something done?
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–5:17
2
What recent Politico report sparked renewed talks about the Bears' stadium?
5:17–13:08
3
What did State Representative Cam Buckner say about ongoing conversations with the Bears?
13:08–15:45
4
Why would the Bears draft their own legislative language for a stadium bill?
15:45–19:26
5
How did buying land first change the usual stadium planning process?
19:26–22:38
Speakers
6 identifiedMore from Rahimi & Grote Show
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