State legislators of both parties talk ‘Business, Budget & Bears’ in Schaumburg

A bipartisan panel of Illinois legislators Friday discussed the three Bs of “Business, Budget & Bears” at a morning forum organized by the Schaumburg Business Association.

By the end, it was clear how intertwined the Chicago Bears potential move to Arlington Heights was to the other issues.

Daily Herald Managing Editor for Opinion Jim Slusher served as moderator of the event at the village of Schaumburg’s Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts. He asked the three Democrats and three Republicans how much it was worth to keep the Bears in Illinois.

“I would very much like to see the Bears stay, but not at any cost,” Republican state Rep. Dan Ugaste of Geneva said.

He has many problems with the state’s current proposal. These include shifting property tax burdens and schools having greater influence on an advisory board he believes should have equal representation from all affected taxing bodies.

The legislation would let the Bears or any developer spending at least $500 million negotiate tax payments directly with local governments, including schools, for up to 40 years.

Democratic state Rep. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg said losing the Bears to Indiana would hurt Illinois resident’s morale. She emphasized the need to ensure the state wasn’t being duped into a bad deal.

“We want to make sure we’re making sound, long-term decisions,” she said.

Mussman pointed out the bill aims to support various types of businesses, not just one.

Republican state Sen. Darby Hills from Barrington Hills supports keeping the Bears in Illinois as a key job creator. However, she sees the current situation as a question of the state’s competitiveness. She also noted that details like roads, traffic, and public safety are important.

“We want to incentivize it for them to stay here,” she said.

Democratic state Sen. Cristina Castro of Elgin highlighted the importance of keeping a $9 billion business in Illinois. She stressed that all parties need to be heard.

“If we don’t hear from you, we don’t know what that direct impact is going to be,” she said. “This needs to be a very thoughtful conversation.”

Castro believes Indiana lawmakers seemed less concerned about these details, noting how quickly they drafted their own bill.

Republican House Minority Leader Tony McCombie from Savanna called Indiana a real threat to keeping the Bears here. She argued if taxes rise in Indiana because of their bill, it will be their fault. McCombie noted Illinois’ bill started to retain the Bears but grew broader like the transit bill.

“We make things too broad and then things get too difficult,” she said.

She also took a swipe at statehouse Democrats for not consulting GOP colleagues who have experience negotiating large-scale developments.

“Collaboration has become a dirty word,” she said.

The state Senate’s Democratic Assistant Majority Leader, Laura Murphy of Des Plaines, explained why negotiations with the Bears are complex.

She said the team suggested the state fund parking structures to support a stadium campus in Arlington Heights — with the provision the Bears keep parking revenue to support business operations.

“That’s a non-starter,” Murphy said, emphasizing the public investment should be compensated.

She acknowledged a new Bears stadium would bring benefits to many in the state, as shown by two years of talks with affected school districts.

Murphy also addressed criticisms of the current House bill by stating, “We’ll fix it in the Senate.”