Pritzker defends level of engagement with state lawmakers amid Bears flop
Gov. JB Pritzker only had one scheduled meeting in May with the two main legislative negotiators of megaprojects legislation that would have allowed the Chicago Bears to negotiate and lock in a lower property tax payment for up to 40 years.
Welch not on speaking terms with ousted Rep. Fred Crespo
Crespo said he doesn’t know what he has to apologize for after Welch said that was required.
Speaker Welch explains how his 60-vote rule affects his decisions
Welch’s 60-vote rule got a lot of public attention this spring during negotiations over the Bears bill
Hail Mary effort to keep Bears in Illinois centers around local stadium authority
Two sources close to negotiations confirmed that legislation is being crafted that would enable local governments to set up their own stadium authorities — a mechanism that would allow the Bears to escape paying property taxes altogether.
Bears bombshell: City back in mix; team has met ‘repeatedly’ with Chicago over ‘several months’
Sen. Bill Cunningham said a PILOT bill is off the table, the Bears have had several previously undisclosed meetings with the city of Chicago, and Senate Dems want Chicago to be on an “equal plane” in competing for a new stadium.
Budget, Bears, BUILD, oh my. What’s the latest from the Statehouse?
With just over 24 hours left in the spring legislative session, several major issues remain in flux. Lawmakers are getting closer to finalizing the budget, the Bears megaproject bill remains a coinflip, hemp and cannabis reform was showing some signs of life, but sources tell us the governor’s housing plan appears unlikely to pass.
Bears bill, BUILD take back seat as leaders seek agreement on budget
The budget is the focus, and new revenue options are beginning to take shape in the final stretch of the legislative session.
Pritzker gives update on Bears megaprojects bill as deadline nears
As lawmakers barrel towards their May 31 adjournment deadline, there’s been little movement in negotiations over a megaprojects bill that would clear the path for the Chicago Bears build a new domed stadium in Arlington Heights — and not across the state line in Hammond, Indiana.
How the Illinois Senate’s housing proposals compare to Gov. JB Pritzker’s BUILD plan
With just days left in the spring legislative session, Illinois Senate Democrats unveiled an eight-bill housing package incorporating tweaked elements of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) plan and a slew of progressive initiatives.
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