State lawmakers punt on Bears stadium proposal

Chicago Bears fans wondering if state lawmakers have taken action to keep the team from bolting to northwest Indiana ... can keep wondering.

Members of the state House adjourned early Monday morning without taking final action on the latest version of a stadium proposal.

Earlier, the Senate approved a new proposal that would allow any city with more than 70,000 people that's at least partially in Cook County to set up its own stadium authority, with the goal of bidding for the chance to have the Bears build a publicly-owned stadium in that community. The measure is seen as giving new life to the prospects of keeping the team in Chicago after its Soldier Field lease expires in 2033. It also signals the apparent death of the "mega-projects" proposal that would have let the Bears or other developers negotiate long-term property tax payments with local communities.

Before the Senate vote just before 3:45 am, sponsor and Chicago Democrat Bill Cunningham told colleagues the measure was a response to feedback he's heard from constituents.

"'Don't let the Bears leave, but don't give 'em one red cent. Don't give 'em one penny.' And that's what this bill does," said Sen. Cunningham (18th District).

But Effingham County Republican Steve McClure (54th District) noted that neither Bears executives nor the NFL have said publicly whether they support the legislation: "We all want to see the Bears stay in Illinois, but without even knowing at this late hour what the positions of the entities that will make this decision are, I can't support a 'yes' vote."

And just before introducing a motion to adjourn, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch said discussions would continue on the Bears legislation over the summer ... and later, he told "Capitol News Illinois" that action could happen "sooner rather than later," but probably not in a special session.

Shortly after the House adjourned, the Bears released a statement: "We will finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond, and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated. We will provide an update when we have a decision to share." Despite several meetings with leaders in Chicago over the last few weeks, the team has insisted its only viable site in Illinois is in Arlington Heights.

The new proposal that passed the Senate is seen as a potential win for Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson, who for more than two years has insisted that the best place for a new football stadium is at the Museum Campus on the lakefront ... and a setback for leaders in Arlington Heights, who would face at least one more hurdle in what's been a three-plus year odyssey to get shovels in the ground at the old Arlington Park property.

Indiana leaders have already approved legislation to create a stadium authority that would build a venue for the Bears to rent with an option to buy, most likely in the Wolf Lake area of Hammond.