Members of the Illinois House “ran out the clock” on their legislative session early Monday “without passing a bill to entice the Bears to build a new dome in their home state rather than cross the border to the east, denying the team the property tax certainty” that the McCaskeys have insisted will decide the destination of their new dome. Illinois senators “tossed up a desperation heave” by passing a bill that would authorize Cook County municipalities with populations of at least 70,000 to “create their own financing authorities for publicly owned stadiums that would eliminate the Bears’ potential property tax bills.” But their House colleagues did not “take up the measure for a vote, leaving the stadium saga in limbo once again.” After the House adjourned shortly before sunrise Monday, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Welch “ruled out calling a special legislative session to deal with the unfinished business surrounding the Bears.” After his late push for the legislation, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s office issued a statement saying that he “has always wanted the Bears to remain in Illinois and been open to a sensible deal, so the Governor’s Office needs to carefully review this new bill that was recently made public overnight” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/1).
Sponsored content
Additional Sections
