Conservative Group Targeting Republicans Over Bears Vote
Reps. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills), Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Hanover Park), Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt), and Rep. Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville).
While Democrats are having a difficult time in their own ranks passing a bill to provide property tax certainty to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, Republicans have fallen into outright civil war over the House vote on the package last week.
Ten Republicans voted in favor of the so-called “Megaprojects” bill that would provide the Bears, and other large-scale developments in the state, to make discounted property tax payments to local governments instead of paying full freight under Illinois’ property tax system.
Some estimates have predicted the Bears would owe up to $180 million per year on a new Arlington Heights stadium under the current property tax structure.
Americans for Prosperity, the Koch-funded libertarian and conservative activist organization with a branch in Illinois has attacked the ten House Republicans who supported the bill.
Members range from those in districts where the GOP member is unopposed like Rep. Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) and Rep. Patrick Sheehan (R-Homer Glen) to some of the most vulnerable Republicans in the House, like Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills), Rep. Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville), and Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt).
AFP is currently running digital ads attacking those five Republicans as well as Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Hanover Park).
Sources say House Republicans are concerned that AFP’s attacks on GOP members could hurt their chances of retaining those seats in November.
“Legislators in difficult districts that have messaging against them is potentially hurtful,” said one GOP source.
AFP also spent tens of thousands of dollars in 2024 helping keep Schmidt and Schweizer afloat in close races.
“The absence could be seriously felt in November,” the GOP source said.
AFP responded to questions about attacks on vulnerable Republican members.
“Our mission is to protect taxpayers, especially property tax payers, not vulnerable incumbents,” said Jason Heffley, State Director for Americans for Prosperity.
At least one of the vulnerable members defended his vote.
“Our region has lost hundreds of jobs because Illinois isn’t competitive,” said Schweizer. “My priority is bringing growth to the area and lowering the cost of living so families can continue to stay together and build a future here in Illinois.”
McLaughlin and Schmidt declined to comment. Sanalitro did not return a message from The Illinoize Tuesday.
AFP also spent heavily for incumbent House Republicans during the spring primary cycle, and it isn’t clear if the relationship between to two sides is irreparably broken.
But a Republican source said if AFP is more receptive to a final bill on the Bears, the animosity between to two sides can be “solvable.”
