* Gov. JB Pritzker did a little trolling of the notoriously Illinois-hating Indiana trolls today. When asked about the Bears at an unrelated press conference, this is some of what he said…
I think I’m very interested to see how the people of Indiana, the voters of Indiana, feel about the massive increases in taxes that are being proposed about paying for a stadium in Indiana for the Chicago Bears. Do they want to raise their taxes to pay for a stadium in the state of Indiana for the Chicago Bears? We’ll see. So that’s a question for people who live in Indiana.
Here in Illinois, we continue to have really positive discussions with the Chicago Bears, and I think you’re going to see progress over time here. But importantly, you know, we want I’m a Chicago Bears fan. Believe very much that they ought to be based in Illinois, and I’m going to do everything I can without harming the taxpayers of the state of Illinois in the process of making sure that, you know, we can do everything we can to keep them in the state
More on the “absolute cornucopia of new taxes” proposed in Indiana is here.
As a commenter wrote yesterday: “Lighting tax money on fire to own the libs.” Yep.
* Pritzker also sounded very positive today about his mega projects bill, which could be heard in committee Thursday morning. The Bears want to use that legislation to help build their new complex….
Lots of conversation and agreement on everything, really, as far as I can tell with regard to a bill that provides this kind of, what they call tax certainty. But it’s, it’s a PILOT bill, as you pointed out. So it looks like, you know, they proposed a few changes over the last couple of weeks. There’s been really broad agreement about those.
And the the leaders of Arlington Heights and the surrounding communities all seem to be on board as well. So again, this is really, it’s in the legislature. The legislators themselves have to make decisions about this. But I think we were at a, you know, in a good place with regard to that bill.
- Hmmm. - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 12:19 pm:
Why wouldn’t the Colts and Pacers have their hands out for tax money too? if the Bears get a sweet deal.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 12:26 pm:
===have their hands out for tax money too?===
They already got their deals.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 12:27 pm:
=As a commenter wrote yesterday: “Lighting tax money on fire to own the libs.” Yep.=
Likely becoming the ultimate red state self-own of all time.
- wildcat12 - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 12:34 pm:
Silly little transcription error:
=do everything I can without Harmon the taxpayers of the state of Illinois in the process=
- ChicagoBars - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 12:42 pm:
After the last four years (including when the Bears bought Arlington Park and were then shocked, affronted, and appalled the assessor set the parcel’s valuation at what they had actually paid) I fully expect even if PILOT Megaprojects bill passes we will get to enjoy months if not years of Bears wrangling over that annual PILOT payment amount.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 12:56 pm:
What’s really being negotiated are the terms which will increase the enterprise value for the inevitable sale of the Chicago Bears.
- Steve - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
I don’t think JB has to say much of anything. All politicians in Illinois who say no rent-seeking off of Illinois taxpayers are doing their job. If the Bears want to leave: let them. JB and the Illinois elected officials who are looking out for the taxpayers here should be commended. Only 20% of Soldiers Field revenue comes from the Bears.
- Momax - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
Unfortunately for Illinois the state of Indiana has the money to burn because taxes are really low and the state is fiscally sound.
So Indiana has a bankroll and fiscal ability that Illinois does not.
This is the price to pay when you run the state into the ground - you start losing people, jobs, businesses, political power and sports franchises.
- Sue - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:08 pm:
How much will the Bears “negotiate” their property taxes to be? Different versions of the bill have different provisions regarding whether any individual taxing body has veto power or whether the village can just make the decision unilaterally. From the materials the village was promoting, it sounds as if their baseline is “no higher than SoFi stadium,” never mind that it’s apples to oranges.
As a bonus, they’ll scam the TIF district part too, promoting the housing they’ll build as designated for seniors, who will move out of their single family homes, young families will move in their, overall school enrollment will increase, but the portion directly attributed to the development will be nil, so they won’t pay, it’ll just be a burden on the rest of the taxpayers.
- ThePAMan - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:08 pm:
And yet it appears that we, Illinois taxpayers, will be “assisting” the Bear in their move from one Cook County location to another. PACO: Pritzker Always Chickens Out?
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:18 pm:
I really hope Indiana meant it when some politician said the Bears had to commit by end of February or deal off. Bears bought a site three years ago and still cannot make up their minds? Please just make a decision and be done with it.
- Sue - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:21 pm:
Don’t care where the Bears end up but it is kind of laughable that JB calls out Indiana for raising taxes as that is JB’s specialty- anyone buy a tank of gas lately across the State Line in either Indiana or up in WI?
- Jerry - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:28 pm:
Just like any other business does when they are seeking government handouts, eh, Sue? I’m sure you’ll agree: No Welfare for the Bears!
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:41 pm:
==anyone buy a tank of gas lately across the State Line in either Indiana or up in WI?==
No, but I did buy a tank of gas in DuPage County, Illinois on Sunday for $2.59 a gallon.
GasBuddy results for Hammond, IN today show a range of $2.51 to $2.79.
Kenosha, WI does show a lower spread of $2.15 to $2.59, though I don’t know that driving an hour each way on the tollway to save five bucks on a tank of gas would be the most efficient maneuver on my part.
But then again, I’ve been told liars use numbers.
- Charles Edward Cheese - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:42 pm:
@Sue
Clearly the brunt of this gas issue falls squarely on the shoulders of Gov Pritzker. He should release Illinois massive strategic oil reserve, or better yet simply click the “lower gas prices” button on his desk.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 1:44 pm:
===the state is fiscally sound===
Might wanna update your talking points.
- B - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 2:02 pm:
@Momax
I’m sorry, are you saying that Indiana, a state that sends the federal government less money than it gets back, and a state that doesmt fund its infrastructure, clean air or water, or education, and a state that is literally taking the surplus money that Illinois residents pay to the federal government, are you calling that state a fiscal example to emulate?
What an absolutely comedic example if so.
If not for Illinois and other similar states, Indiana could not even function let alone balance a budget.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 2:10 pm:
=== anyone buy a tank of gas lately across the State Line in either Indiana or up in WI? ===
Wisconsin has much cheaper gas, and a well-earned reputation for being a Pot Hole Hell.
Indiana has slightly cheaper gas, and much better roads I admit. But Illinois sees nearly 110 billion vehicle miles per year, compared to 55 billion for Indiana, so we see twice the wear-and-tear.
The gas tax you hate pays to maintain the roads.
If you do not maintain the roads, you pay for it in broken tie rods, back surgeries and traffic fatalities.
If you are buying gas out of state to avoid paying to repair our roads, you are freeloading. You arent alone in that behavior, but freeloaders are almost inevitable.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 2:18 pm:
==This is the price to pay when you run the state into the ground==
I really want to know what state some of you are living in because Illinois isn’t “run into the ground.”
- JB13 - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 2:21 pm:
Few aspects of this whole situation is more laughable than the notion advanced by the “Not One Penny” crowd that we must not negotiate with the Bears, or else Illinois will ruin its sound financial position by taking on debt and being forced to raise taxes.
As if the state is a shining example of fiscal prudence and restraint and the state, Cook County, Arlington Heights schools, etc., won’t be taking on debt and raising taxes anyway.
Whatever the tax consequences of a Bears stadium deal, very few would actually notice a difference in these parts
- Pundent - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 2:24 pm:
=Indiana has slightly cheaper gas, and much better roads I admit.=
They also levy an excise tax based on the value of your car each time you register it. That’s why comparing the price of a gallon of gas is a bit silly.
- B - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
Indiana has better roads? Since when? My first winter here years back driving to see family after a blizzard I crossed the state line going 50 to 60 mph and immediately saw car after car stuck in the ditches and when I tried to break and started sliding everywhere I quickly realized why. I had to drive 15 mph the rest of the way because unlike Chicago, Indiana decided salting and plowing their roads is an unecessary tax apparently. I wonder how all the Indiana cars I saw wiped out and stucj in the ditches felt about saving 50 to 100 bucks a year on road and gas taxes so that they coukd instead pay for the multiple hundreds to thousands of dollars in towing fee and repairs.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 2:33 pm:
===or else Illinois will ruin its sound financial position===
Straw man fallacy. You’re either obtusely or deliberately missing the whole point of the opposition, as usual. So you try to reframe it in a way to demolish the “argument” that nobody is making.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 3:01 pm:
Where does Indiana hide their better roads?
And have they considered installing any of them between Chicago and Indianapolis?
– MrJM
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 3:34 pm:
Who will pay the millions upon millions to remediate the toxic soil around the proposed stadium in Hammond? This land ignored for decades by the state of Indiana is highly polluted.
The IDEM looks the other way as industry pollutes the air, water, and soil. Indiana does very little to protect its citizens.
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 3:43 pm:
Perhaps we should require our political parties to face off in some pre-agreed on game…it might cause people to pay as much attention to politics as football?
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 4:27 pm:
For those complimenting Indiana on their road network, keep in mind:
(1) Only within the last 18 months has Evansville & Bloomington been connected to Indianapolis by an interstate freeway - prior to that, it was connected with something like Veteran’s Parkway in Springfield; and
(2) Last session Indiana passed a law permitting any interstate freeway to be converted to a Toll Road - shades of the late Ric Williamson!
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 5:16 pm:
=My first winter here years back driving to see family after a blizzard I crossed the state line going 50 to 60 mph and immediately saw car after car stuck in the ditches and when I tried to break and started sliding everywhere I quickly realized why.=
In 1993 I was headed down to Bloomington after a heavy snow. I passed an Indiana State snow plow as he was headed into the ditch. Their roads are terrible too.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 8:30 pm:
- prior to that, it was connected with something like Veteran’s Parkway in Springfield -
That is an extremely generous description of 41. I can’t tell you how many near misses I’ve had with people blowing red lights on that highway.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Feb 25, 26 @ 1:01 am:
“That is an extremely generous description of 41.”
Was thinking more of what I-69 replaced. South of Indy to Bloomington was Indiana State Route 37, not sure exactly which State / US road I-69 replaced south of Bloomington to Evansville.