Gov. JB Pritzker reacts to legislature adjourning without passing Bears bill
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Rahimi Harrison-Grody. We are family here. We are family. Middays 10 to 2 on 104.3 The Score.
We need to continue our conversations on the Bayer Stadium question. I know in the house, we need time to review the bill that came over early this morning. We need to know where do the Bears stand. We need to take the time to get it right.
That is the Speaker of the House, Chris Welch. This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody on 104.3 The Score.
What are the key issues surrounding the Bears stadium bill?
And he also gave this statement to CapitalNewsIllinois.com. This says here, the House adjourned without taking up the Senate proposal. House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, D. Hillside, told members that there is still a lot of work ahead of us, which is what you just heard, and that they will continue to discuss. But here's the issue. We just heard from Jeff Buchholz, WBBM political news editor, that... there isn't an intention to call a special session. So the other thing that he said that's important here, Welch, is I think our caucus is used to processes. Our caucus is used to taking our time and doing it right. But if there's no special session and the Bears have the statement saying that they're going to remain on the timeline for late spring, which is now, slash early summer, which is soon, the math is not mathing here as far as timelines are concerned.
Indiana, here we come. No special sesh? Do it, Bears. Do it. I dare you. I dare you. Commit to Indiana. Go for it.
The Hammond hams. Mm-hmm. So are you saying that because you don't think they will, Mark, in the sarcastic tone you're saying it?
It's all set up for that. It's all set up. They're going to tell us how real Indiana is. And you guys know that when they – I thought it was smart. It was very smart to get Indiana on board. You now have something on your side to help in your negotiating – Here we are. Lights, camera, action. Your time has arrived here.
What did House Speaker Chris Welch say about the legislative process?
Arlington Heights is all mad now. We got a statement from them as well. Go to Indiana.
The needle was moved because, if you remember, back last year, they were like, hey, this is not a priority for us or the public to get the Bear Stadium deal done. That was before they got the Indiana thing established. Once you had the Indiana option as one that was deemed as viable, all of a sudden, all of these Illinois politicians got on their horses and tried to make it to the finish line.
Well, I wish it were that simple. But when Jeff is telling us and we have multiple reports from Paris Schatz and others that there are clandestine and somewhat secret conversations going on by the bears with the city of Chicago and that the city of Chicago caucus is what reportedly led to there being a lack of votes for the bill to pass. then we don't know what the Bears' plan is at all.
Is it self-sabotage at that point?
No. I don't want to speak for anybody who hasn't spoken, but I wonder how much the Bears backed off of what they originally wanted to do with that pep rally with Brandon Johnson where they wanted to get a publicly funded stadium on the lakefront. What I do know is the city of Chicago cannot afford it. So I don't know what the end game is here.
Yeah, that's what's confusing. And what's further confusing is that they have... at least publicly, stayed strong on there only being two viable sites.
The NFL meeting indicated that it was either Arlington Heights, where they own the property, or Hammond, Indiana, where the legislation is in session to be able to, they put the pieces together where the infrastructure is there from a law side to be able to build a stadium with public money. And then there's this from the mayor of Arlington Heights as a press release. The Village of Arlington Heights is disappointed that Springfield did not pass any legislation to facilitate the proposed redevelopment of Arlington Park this session. While this outcome is not what many had hoped for, the Arlington Park property remains one of the largest and most important redevelopment opportunities with long-term potential for our community, the region, and the entire state of Illinois.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:34
2
What are the key issues surrounding the Bears stadium bill?
0:34–2:02
3
What did House Speaker Chris Welch say about the legislative process?
2:02–4:32
4
What are the implications of no special session for the Bears?
4:32–9:29
5
How has the Bears' potential move to Indiana influenced negotiations?
9:29–11:35
Speakers
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