The building trades in Northwest Indiana are vowing to oppose any politician who votes against a food and beverage tax that would be part of a new Bears stadium
The Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council includes more than 30 unions with about 40-thousand members.
And they’re flexing their political muscle.
“You don’t support us, we can’t support you,” said Randy Palmateer, the Business Manager.
“So all these politicians who come into our building trades room and ask for our members’ votes without reciprocating, this build nothing at all mentality that’s starting to happen – I get the point on data centers and some of these other developments – but a professional football team, you’re going to push back on that, so what’s good enough for some of these politicians?”
Palmateer said a one-percent food and beverage tax is not going to hurt anyone.
If you’re going out to dinner, a dollar on a 100 dollar tab isn’t asking too much,” he said. “The return on investment is going to be astronomical.”
Under the legislation concerning financing for a Bears stadium in Northwest Indiana, Lake and Porter Counties would impose the new taxes.
There has been some opposition. There's also no certainty that the team is moving across the border to Hammond.
