Senator Bernie Sanders wants to keep the Bears in Illinois – NBC Chicago
The Chicago Bears border battle is getting some consideration from an unlikely individual: US Senator Bernie Sanders.
Illinois faces mounting strain to keep one in every of the nation’s oldest soccer franchises, whereas Indiana tries to lure them to Hammond. It’s dragged on so lengthy that now, Congress is working interference.
“The idea that … they could blackmail one community against another for more tax breaks or more public subsidies is not acceptable,” Sanders stated.
Sanders, a University of Chicago graduate, and US Rep. Greg Casar from Texas unveiled the Home Team Act, which might mandate workforce homeowners give a yr’s discover earlier than relocating a workforce to a brand new metropolitan space or throughout state traces. That would enable native communities the probability to purchase the workforce at honest market worth, following a mannequin the Packers developed greater than 100 years in the past.
“It’s possible to have much better deals if you aren’t negotiating with a gun to your head, like we’re seeing right now in Illinois,” Casar stated.
“Chicago and municipalities all over this country are struggling right now to educate their kids, to pave their streets. And the idea that you have billionaire owners running very profitable operations say, ‘If you don’t give us even more, we’re going to leave,'” Sanders added.
Their plan would enable the Bears to transfer to Arlington Heights however not to Hammond, though they’ve one other metropolis in thoughts.
“Yes, this is a ‘Keep The Bears in Chicago’ bill,” Casar stated.
Illinois US Sen. Dick Durbin joked Friday that he was unaware his colleague Sanders was a Bears fan. His purpose can be to keep the workforce in Chicago and if not in Chicago, then in Illinois.
“The loyal fans who sit up there in freezing weather cheering on the Bears — think about them. Get this done quickly. Make sure we have the best facilities to keep the Bears in Illinois and do it right away,” Durbin stated.
So, the place do negotiations stand? The Bears need Springfield to go laws guaranteeing property tax certainty earlier than they may transfer to Arlington Heights, however the Illinois House admitted Friday with no vote on the invoice. The General Assembly will not return till April 7.
However, state Rep. Kam Buckner informed NBC 5, “we have made considerable progress. The lack of a vote today shouldn’t signal any issues.”
Sanders additionally wants Congress to take a better take a look at which groups are charging followers.
“It’s not a radical statement to say that if you’re a working class family, you might want to take your kids to see a ball game without having to mortgage your home,” Sanders stated.
US Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García is co-sponsoring the House invoice with Casar.
García informed NBC 5 in a press release, “As a lifelong Bears fan, I want the team to stay in Illinois so I can take my grandchildren to games. Football brings communities together, and brings economic opportunities as well, and those opportunities should not be just for the billionaire owners. Sports are a tradition that should not be held hostage by billionaires when they demand government handouts or threaten to relocate. The Home Team Act would allow communities to take over their home teams to rein in taxpayer-funded stadium subsidies. The American people are facing historic challenges, and the government should serve their needs first.”
