As a Bears fan, I want the team to stay in Illinois. As a conservative, I could not support legislation that would have given special property tax treatment to a billion-dollar NFL franchise while hardworking Illinois families continue struggling under some of the highest taxes in the nation. This last-minute bill had a corrupt process that left it impossible to make sure taxpayers were protected.
For years Illinois homeowners, seniors, young families, small business owners, and so many others have pleaded with Governor Pritzker and the Democratic majority for property tax relief. Their requests have been largely met with inaction, including the Bears themselves for many years. Finally, the Bears started looking elsewhere, as many other families and companies have. The media attention of that suddenly forced urgency to act for the Governor to act—producing a rushed, unvetted proposal.
That’s why I voted no when the legislation came before the Senate.
While the proposal ultimately stalled in the House, the debate exposed a troubling reality. Governor Pritzker and legislative Democrats were prepared to provide massive tax relief to a billion-dollar NFL franchise and potentially other mega-projects, but not to the families, seniors, and small businesses also getting crushed by property taxes.
They were even willing to force completely new legislation through the Senate at 4 a.m. while the taxpayers footing the bill were fast asleep. Not even the Bears themselves had seen the proposal or weighed in—which Democrats were forced to admit during floor debate! It was a completely incompetent and unethical process.
Illinois taxpayers deserve better.