Harmon Makes Strongest Bears Statement Yet
Senate President Don Harmon.
Senate President Don Harmon made some of the least optimistic comments from a top Democratic official yet this spring about passing property tax legislation to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois and prevent the franchise from moving to Indiana.
During a Q&A after his remarks at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Lobby Day Thursday, Harmon reiterated there is “no appetite” in his caucus for taxpayer money for a stadium, which hasn’t been part of the Illinois conversation in quite some time, though Indiana’s legislation is offering $1 billion to help build a stadium in northwest Indiana.
“If they can convince the Indiana taxpayers to pony up $2 or 3 billion for a new stadium, I think we might have to help them pack,” Harmon said.
A spokesman later clarified it was “some dry Harmon humor noting that we’re not going to throw billions of taxpayer dollars” at the team, unlike Indiana’s offer.
Much of the conversation so far on the property tax certainty the Bears are seeking through Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT bill, ahs taken place in the House. We asked Harmon about where Senate Democrats stand.
“I understand why someone wanting to invest billions of dollars in Illinois would like property tax certainty,” Harmon said. “At the same time, we all represent a lot of folks who live in bungalows who have no property tax certainty. I don’t know how we reconcile those two right at the moment.”
Harmon was asked if property tax relief for homeowners should be tied to a Bears stadium deal.
“Those are two enormous issues and I’m not sure how you tie them together,” he said.
One Republican speculated Thursday Harmon’s comments were calculated to “kick conversations into gear.”
Meanwhile, Governor JB Pritzker Thursday appeared to be growing impatient with lawmakers over slow movement on the Bears legislation saying there is the “scaffolding of a deal” on the legislation but the final action was up to lawmakers.
“[I] would like the legislature to move faster, just because I think it would be good for everybody to get this done,” he said. “We have a lot of things on the schedule that need to get done before the end of May…so I’d like to get this done before we get to that point.”
