Why some lawmakers defected from the party line in megaproject bill affecting Bears stadium

A controversial megaproject bill with incentives for the Chicago Bears to build a stadium in Arlington Heights garnered not only bipartisan support but opposition in the Illinois House last month.

Ten Republicans and five Democrats bucked party lines, although the legislation passed 78-32 on April 22. It awaits action in the Senate with amendments expected.

While Democratic sponsors predicted the measure would preempt Indiana’s attempts to adopt the team and spur statewide economic development, GOP Minority Leader Tony McCombie derided it as “half-baked.”

What prompted the atypical number of defections, including multiple suburbanites?

“We should have had a more robust economic analysis reflecting true costs to the state,” said Democratic state Rep. Anne Stava of Downers Grove, who voted no. “Billionaire boys club bills don’t resonate with my constituents.”

Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills supported the measure. “If you believe Illinois needs more business, this is an opportunity to grow our region. One of very few these days,” he explained.

Other suburban House Republicans who backed the bill included state Reps. Jennifer Sanalitro of Hanover Park, Patrick Sheehan of Lockport and Brad Stephens of Rosemont, who was a key player in negotiations.

Local Democrats in opposition included state Reps. Rita Mayfield of Waukegan, plus Chicagoans Kelly Cassidy and Lilian Jiménez.

“Without politicians fumbling this deal locally, then in the city of Chicago, and now in Springfield for the past three years, the Chicago Bears stadium project would be roughly 80% complete by now at one-third of the price today,” McLaughlin noted. “We would be looking at a stadium opening probably next fall.”

Instead, the measure stalled, and “that delay is costing real money. Billions. Lobbyists are making hyperbolic claims of 40 years of never-ending tax increases, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria. Proponents are saying the structure is so perfect — it’s a big, bold, beautiful bill that will be the envy of all future developments.

“The reality is somewhere in the middle,” McLaughlin said. “If done correctly, “it will look like Rosemont on steroids. It is good for property tax owners in the long run and great for regional businesses.”

The Illinois legislation expands beyond the suburbs with implications for megaprojects across the state, including sites in Springfield and blighted rail yards in Chicago.

Downstate Republican Rep. Mike Coffey explained his yes vote as “I didn’t vote for the Chicago Bears. I voted for Springfield. This is a huge win for downtown Springfield, which will help attract major economic development opportunities.”

“This is much bigger than just a Bears bill,” Republican state Sen. Seth Lewis of Bartlett said.

Locally, the measure would provide property tax relief for the Bears to support a new stadium and additional redevelopment on the 326-acre former Arlington Park property.

The bill would allow megaproject developers to negotiate a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) directly with local taxing bodies such as schools. Half the revenue would be steered toward property tax rebates for people living in the megaproject area, as well as statewide property tax relief.

“My constituents would not support me voting to bail out billionaires when they're losing their homes,” Democrat Mayfield contended. “I have seniors calling me up crying when they get their tax bill, saying, ‘I don’t know how I can afford to pay this.’

“And every time we file a bill to provide tax relief for our senior citizens, we’re told, ‘well, the state doesn’t have the money … yet here we’re going to give a billionaire organization a (multiyear) tax break, plus giving them sales tax exemptions and everything else.”

Mayfield was skeptical that PILOT could provide meaningful tax relief. “It’s not enough,” she said.

What’s next for the measure, which is parked in the Assignments Committee?

The Senate is still analyzing the bill, Democratic state Sen. Laura Murphy of Des Plaines said. And, “although things can change at any moment, it won't be heard in committee (this) week,” the assistant majority leader added.

The clock is ticking, however. Indiana is offering up to $1 billion in public financing for a Bears stadium in Hammond, and the NFL has indicated the football world at large needs a resolution soon.

Lewis predicts actions this week “will be more behind the scenes.”