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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Bears' stadium efforts run out of time in Springfield but suburban lawmaker says deal was close and talks will continue
SPRINGFIELD — While the Illinois General Assembly didn't end up passing legislation this session that helped or hurt the Chicago Bears' stadium efforts, one suburban lawmaker said the legislature got close to a deal on property tax legislation — a measure widely seen as a way to ease a team move to Arlington Heights. 'We were super close and just ran out of time,' state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, a Democrat who represents the northwest suburb and surrounding areas, said Sunday. The team in mid-May announced it was shifting its focus away from building a new lakefront stadium in Chicago to Arlington Heights, where it purchased the former Arlington International Racecourse property two years ago. Though the spring legislative session ended as the calendar turned to June on Saturday night, legislators will likely get another chance to pass legislation in the fall. Still, state Rep. Kam Buckner pushed back on the idea that any agreement was close, as no deal was ever actually introduced in the legislature. 'The Bears have made it clear — they no longer want to be in Chicago. That's their decision,' Buckner, a Chicago Democrat whose district includes Soldier Field, said in a text message Sunday. 'But if they want to leave and use state dollars or ask for special tax protections to do it, they'll have to come through Springfield. And in Springfield, that means facing the Chicago delegation directly.' Lawmakers this session introduced multiple bills proposing changes to state laws that would better enable so-called megaprojects, like a new Bears stadium, to be built. But compromise language that received some support was never introduced, Canty acknowledged. The potential changes would give local control to taxing districts statewide, and not simply be a boost to the Bears' prospects of moving to a specific suburb, she said. 'We're going to keep working all through the summer. I don't like to jinx anything and I also don't like to predict what — where everybody will be' by the fall veto session, Canty said, referring to the next time lawmakers are expected to consider bills. A Bears spokesperson on Sunday reiterated the team's statement that it has made progress with the leaders in Arlington Heights. The dream of a new domed stadium in Chicago has faced enormous headwinds in Springfield since the Bears unveiled a proposal last year asking the state to take on $900 million in new debt and spend $1.5 billion on infrastructure improvements. The franchise likely has a smoother path to move to Arlington Heights, but one of the holdups there was a dispute with the village and local school districts over property taxes. Language discussed behind closed doors in the waning days of session would have allowed 'a weighted vote' of all local taxing bodies to set a property tax payment amount for development projects, while also implementing guardrails from the state on issues like the length of time the agreements could last, Canty said. Gov. JB Pritzker has made clear that while he personally would like to see the Bears stay in Chicago, he is skeptical of providing taxpayer funds to help a private business build a new stadium. Buckner said members of the Chicago delegation in both the House and Senate were 'all very vigilant in the last days of session, expecting the Bears to try to sneak language through the legislature.' 'I don't care how many other lawmakers they talk to — there will be no chicanery, no shortcuts, and no sidestepping the people of Chicago,' he wrote. Asked on Sunday about the prospects for legislation benefiting the Bears, Pritzker said he generally supported options like STAR bonds, a mechanism for local governments to finance big projects, though he emphasized that idea was not specific to the Bears. The discussion on STAR bonds was separate from the megaprojects proposal discussed in the final days of session, Canty said.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public transit funding and pension reform, budget and Bears stadium are big issues in final week of legislative session
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers head into the final days of their spring session this week looking for ways to close a substantial gap in the budget while at the same time shoring up ailing public transit operations and taking steps to fix inequities in the state's pension system. The General Assembly also could move on Gov. JB Pritzker's legislative goals, such as further abortion protections and cryptocurrency regulation. Also still unresolved is whether the state will provide any help for the Chicago Bears' potential relocation to Arlington Heights. As happens every spring, much of the most serious business in the four-month spring legislative session has been left to the final hours. But legislative leaders have also warned there's also a chance that, to maintain a balanced budget, legislators will have to return to Springfield after their scheduled adjournment on Saturday, May 31, because of uncertainty over federal funding under President Donald Trump's administration. Democratic Sen. Elgie Sims of Chicago, the lead budget negotiator for the Senate Democrats, likened the situation with federal funding to the factors that led to a two-year plus budget impasse under Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, which decimated social services and hurt the state's economy. 'There was a great deal of uncertainty, so we couldn't predict what was going to happen from one moment to the next,' Sims said. 'It has a feel like that coming out of Washington. But that's why you have to stay the course, make sure that we have a clear understanding of what the priorities are, of what the needs are.' While Democrats have solid control of the General Assembly, haggling about the $55.2 billion budget Pritzker proposed in February could divide party progressives and moderates, especially over issues such as health insurance for noncitizen immigrants under 65, which the governor did not fund in his proposal. Republicans have long complained about being left out of the budget process, but Sen. Seth Lewis of Bartlett, who works on budget matters for the GOP, said he was happy about one thing this year: Pritzker's message that funding requests must be limited in a tight financial year. 'The governor's early warnings to all interested parties has (tamped) down at least the public requests for more money,' Lewis said. 'We don't know what's coming. But from the tone that I have experienced around the Capitol, the requests for funding for everyone and everything do seem to be (tamped) down.' 'That also (tamps) down any requests for additional revenue,' he said. 'I think that also (tamps) down and forces our agencies to look at what and where they're spending. So, if we can continue this and improve upon it, that'll be good for the residents of Illinois.' Although the GOP has little power to effect change, House Republicans have voiced opposition to any proposal that calls for increased spending or any potential tax hikes. Republicans regularly note state budgets in Illinois have risen from about $40 billion to more than $50 billion in the past decade under Democratic leadership. 'The Democrats' answer for tax reform is revenue. More revenue. We need to be looking at this as a holistic approach,' said House GOP leader Tony McCombie of Savanna. 'We know we need to lower our corporate income tax here in Illinois. We know, every one of us, as we're getting our property tax bills with increases this year, we know we have to have some real reform there and we cannot piecemeal this.' An April report from the legislature's Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability showed the state's revenue growth has fallen $471 million short of the $55 billion in state revenues Pritzker used in his February budget proposal. The bleak financial outlook makes the challenge of addressing reforms and funding to Chicago-area and downstate transit systems especially tough. The Chicago area's transit infrastructure faces a projected fiscal cliff of hundreds of millions of dollars as COVID-pandemic-related federal funds are set to run out by the beginning of next year. Prompted by years of customer dissatisfaction, a proposal to combine the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, Pace and the Regional Transportation Authority is now on the table but has been met with pushback from labor groups. Legislation tying a bailout of the CTA to limits on the mayor's influence on the transit boards is also being considered. There have also been discussions about a single police force for all Chicago-area transit systems. The RTA, which oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace, wants Springfield to allocate $1.5 billion in new funding to overhaul the system. The CTA has outlined a doomsday scenario for Chicago-area transit if lawmakers don't act on reforms and funding by May 31. 'The magnitude of these cuts is unprecedented and would require several rounds of schedule adjustments in 2026 and beyond,' CTA spokesperson Catherine Hosinski has said. Orlando Rojas, a train conductor for Metra, said there's been talk that 300 jobs, possibly including train conductors and engineers, could be in jeopardy at the agency if transit reforms and accompanying funding aren't put into place in the near future. 'The jobs would basically … be a lot less desirable and probably, you know, have to work longer hours, less desirable hours, just to meet the needs of the remaining service,' said Rojas, a union representative for Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation Local 653. Sarah Chiappe, a line cook at a downtown Chicago hotel, takes the Red Line or a bus to work for her 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift. She said she worries that cuts in service could require her to take more expensive ride-sharing options home more often. 'I love taking the train. It gives me a chance to clear my mind on my way to work,' Chiappe said. 'I can finish book after book instead of going through the stressfulness of driving a car everyday to work. But God knows that road rage is a real thing in the city.' One key lawmaker involved in transit talks, Sen. Ram Villivalam, said he's 'cautiously optimistic' there could be some sort of resolution on the transit issue by the end of the month. 'We're continuing our conversations. There's a lot of consensus as it relates to centralizing responsibilities such as fare policies, capital planning, service planning and so much more, to a central authority,' Villivalam said last week. 'And I think we're continuing to stay with our mantra of no funding without reform.' Lawmakers could also consider changes to the state's pension system that grants greater benefits to recipients who were employed by the state prior to 2011, when changes to the massively underfunded system took effect, compared with workers hired since then. The goal of the Tier 2 plan created back then was to shrink a pension debt that now runs to about $141 billion. However, at some point, benefits paid out under the system won't be equal to what Social Security would provide to those employees, a violation of a federal 'safe harbor' law. This would require the state to pay large sums in Social Security taxes instead of operating its own pension system which, while still costly, allows the state more flexibility. The Pritzker administration has proposed allocating $78 million toward addressing the Tier 2 issue, a figure that Sen. Robert Martwick, a key lawmaker involved in the pension negotiations, thinks could rise as negotiations continue. 'There are different benefit structures throughout the state of Illinois and that means a one-size-fits-all is difficult. But I think we're (homing) in. We've had serious discussions between the House and the Senate, and the governor's office, and I feel like we're narrowing in on a potential solution,' said Martwick, a Chicago Democrat. He acknowledged the goal is to make moderate changes to pension guidelines as they relate to an employee's final average salary, retirement age and other factors. 'I think there are all kind of ingredients. I don't know that we'll do all of them, or to what degree we'll do any of them,' he said. 'But those are all the different (things) that we're working on, trying to come up with a solution that works for the state, works for the taxpayers, works for our employees.' While the Bears signaled earlier this month they aren't seeking significant state funding for a new stadium, the team does acknowledge a move to Arlington Heights would be contingent on legislative action allowing for the negotiated financing of large-scale developments. This so-called megaproject legislation would allow them to negotiate with local governments over property tax bills. Rows of trees on the southern edge of the former Arlington International Racecourse are lit by the sunrise on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) The former paddock is marked by a circle and cross at the former Arlington International Racecourse on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) An aerial photo of the former Arlington International Racecourse on March 12, 2024, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) The former Arlington International Racecourse on May 19, 2025, in Arlington Heights. The Chicago Bears currently own the property and may build a new stadium and entertainment district. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) The view from the neighborhood northeast of the former Arlington International Racecourse on Dec. 30, 2024, in Arlington Heights. The Chicago Bears own the property and could potentially build a stadium there. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) A digital billboard advertising the Chicago Bears sits near the practice track of the former Arlington International Racecourse near Route 53 and Northwest Highway on June 25, 2024, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) The former Arlington International Racecourse is seen on March 12, 2024, in Arlington Heights. The Bears purchased the Arlington Heights property last year. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneThe grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse is dismantled on Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneThe shell of the grandstand remains at the former Arlington International Racecourse as crews continue to demolish it on Aug. 31, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Brian Cassella / Chicago TribuneRiders wait for a Metra train at the station in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribunePeople wait for a Metra train in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneDowntown Arlington Heights features a small park, condos, retail shopping and dining on Sept. 29, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribunePeople walk through the intersection of Vail Avenue and Campbell Street in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago TribuneArlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on May 1, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneWorkers gather in a parking lot outside of the former Arlington Park to begin demolition on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues on the grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse on July 11, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneThe grandstand of the former Arlington International Racecourse is razed on Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneSelso Nunez, of Palatine, dressed in Bears garb, peeks over the gate of Arlington International Racecourse as he looks for a spot to watch the fireworks following a day of races on Sept. 25, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneThe former Arlington International Racecourse is shown behind the Arlington Park Metra train station on Oct. 28, 2021. After buying the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights in 2023, the Chicago Bears proposed building a $2 billion stadium there as part of a 326-acre development including entertainment and residential uses. (Chicago Bears) Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago TribuneClouds pass over the now-closed Arlington International Racecourse on Sept. 6, 2022, in Arlington Heights. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneA rendering of the plan is shown as representatives from the Chicago Bears present their concept for building a new stadium and entertainment district on the site of Arlington International Racecourse during a public meeting at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights on Sept. 8, 2022. Hart Howerton/Chicago BearsA rendering released by the Chicago Bears shows the view from the proposed stadium of the Arlington Park entertainment district. E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago TribuneThe synthetic racing surface is being removed from the track at the Arlington Park International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on Feb. 8, 2023. Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago TribuneThe Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on May 1, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneConstruction equipment stands ready for expected demolition at the former Arlington International Racecourse at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues on the grounds of the former Arlington International Racecourse on June 13, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition crews hired by the Chicago Bears begin knocking down the grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse on June 16, 2023, in Arlington Heights. The Bears are looking at the site for a possible new stadium for the team. Trent Sprague/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues of the main grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights on Aug. 1, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition of the grandstand continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Aug. 7, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition of the grandstand continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Aug. 7, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues on the grandstand and surrounding structures at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights. E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago TribuneArlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights is seen on Feb. 8, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneA Metra train passes the former Arlington International Racecourse at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneArlington Park International Racecourse in Arlington Heights is seen on Sept. 29, 2021. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, the near-century-old facility that likely hosted its final horse race last Saturday. Erin Hooley / Chicago TribuneArlington Park International Racecourse is seen on Oct. 6, 2021, in Arlington Heights. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, the near-century-old facility that likely hosted its final horse race. E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago TribuneA view of the former grandstand of Arlington Park International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights is seen on Feb. 8, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneThe former Arlington International Racecourse is seen at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Demolition is expected to begin soon. Trent Sprague/Chicago TribuneCrews demolish the main grandstand of the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, July 14, 2023. The site may become the future home of the Chicago Bears. Trent Sprague/Chicago TribuneMain grandstand demolition continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Aug. 1, 2023. Show Caption1 of 41A Chicago Bears digital billboard glows at sunrise just off of Route 53 at the former Arlington International Racecourse on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)Expand But passing such a measure quickly might be a tall order, especially for Chicago lawmakers with an interest in keeping the team in the city. There are at least three megaprojects-related bills sitting in the legislature that could provide the Bears some sort of path to work on with lawmakers in trying to ease their move to Arlington Heights if the northwest suburb officially becomes their new home. 'Apparently the Bears have made a proposal on what version, which is a combination of all three, that they want to negotiate,' Sen. Mark Walker, an Arlington Heights Democrat who is sponsoring one of those bills, said May 16, the day the Bears announced their shift in focus to Arlington Heights. 'So that's going to be under negotiation in the next couple of weeks.' Also up in the air are elements of Pritzker's legislative agenda, a menu that includes legislation involving consumer protection, education, local governance and abortion rights, one of the governor's signature issues. One measure passed by the Senate and awaiting approval from the House would provide more protections under Illinois' 2023 shield law, which prevents health care workers from facing disciplinary action by the state if, for instance, they provide abortion care to someone from another state that has more stringent abortion restrictions. The legislation also would ensure prescribing abortion medications such as mifepristone would remain legal in the state even if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revokes approval, as long as the World Health Organization recommends their use. Democrats have warned that access to these drugs could be jeopardized following declarations toward that end by Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation policy group thought to have influence on the Trump White House. Passed by the Senate and awaiting a House vote is a Pritzker-backed bill that would require school districts to adopt guidelines to prohibit students from using cellphones during instructional time, while providing secure and accessible storage for the devices, before the 2026-27 school year. The bill provides exceptions that would allow students to use phones during an emergency, when a teacher authorizes the device for instruction, when a phone can assist students with a disability or when the device is necessary for a student learning English. Another Pritzker initiative would allow the state to impose regulations on the cryptocurrency industry, which has come under scrutiny for leaving customers vulnerable to fraud. Digitized cryptocurrency can be used for electronic payments through the internet that are usually not controlled by a government body or authoritative entity, and the Trump administration has been friendly to the industry, stopping investigations into crypto businesses and litigation against at least one company. Two bills calling for the cryptocurrency regulations are before the General Assembly, and each has passed through one chamber. The governor is also pushing legislation that would regulate pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, companies that act as intermediaries among drugmakers, insurance corporations and pharmacies. The legislation, among other things, would prevent PBMs from sending patients to pharmacies where they have a financial interest and it would also include prohibiting PBMs from pocketing certain savings on medications. A bill that is expected to include language for a Pritzker-led measure that would allow some community colleges to offer four-year degrees advanced through the House Executive Committee Friday. But Democratic Rep. Curtis Tarver of Chicago at that hearing said, 'The Black Caucus has some concerns about the concept and the bill in general.' Another Pritzker initiative awaiting consideration by lawmakers would grant voters the ability to decide whether to consolidate township governments, including as a potential solution to lower property taxes. All of those issues could be addressed as lawmakers continue to press to get money for programs and services they want in the coming year, even as Pritzker has indicated the answer will often be 'No.' 'There are still those priorities that individuals want to see addressed in the budget, making sure that we're protecting our most vulnerable, making sure that we're providing for our seniors,' Sims, the chief budget negotiator for the Senate Democrats, said. 'So those kinds of things, those discussions are ongoing. I imagine we'll continue to do that over the next week.' Chicago Tribune's Olivia Olander contributed.
Chicago Tribune
26-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Public transit funding and pension reform, budget and Bears stadium are big issues in final week of legislative session
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers head into the final days of their spring session this week looking for ways to close a substantial gap in the budget while at the same time shoring up ailing public transit operations and taking steps to fix inequities in the state's pension system. The General Assembly also could move on Gov. JB Pritzker's legislative goals, such as further abortion protections and cryptocurrency regulation. Also still unresolved is whether the state will provide any help for the Chicago Bears' potential relocation to Arlington Heights. As happens every spring, much of the most serious business in the four-month spring legislative session has been left to the final hours. But legislative leaders have also warned there's also a chance that, to maintain a balanced budget, legislators will have to return to Springfield after their scheduled adjournment on Saturday, May 31, because of uncertainty over federal funding under President Donald Trump's administration. Democratic Sen. Elgie Sims of Chicago, the lead budget negotiator for the Senate Democrats, likened the situation with federal funding to the factors that led to a two-year plus budget impasse under Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, which decimated social services and hurt the state's economy. 'There was a great deal of uncertainty, so we couldn't predict what was going to happen from one moment to the next,' Sims said. 'It has a feel like that coming out of Washington. But that's why you have to stay the course, make sure that we have a clear understanding of what the priorities are, of what the needs are.' While Democrats have solid control of the General Assembly, haggling about the $55.2 billion budget Pritzker proposed in February could divide party progressives and moderates, especially over issues such as health insurance for noncitizen immigrants under 65, which the governor did not fund in his proposal. Republicans have long complained about being left out of the budget process, but Sen. Seth Lewis of Bartlett, who works on budget matters for the GOP, said he was happy about one thing this year: Pritzker's message that funding requests must be limited in a tight financial year. 'The governor's early warnings to all interested parties has (tamped) down at least the public requests for more money,' Lewis said. 'We don't know what's coming. But from the tone that I have experienced around the Capitol, the requests for funding for everyone and everything do seem to be (tamped) down.' 'That also (tamps) down any requests for additional revenue,' he said. 'I think that also (tamps) down and forces our agencies to look at what and where they're spending. So, if we can continue this and improve upon it, that'll be good for the residents of Illinois.' Although the GOP has little power to effect change, House Republicans have voiced opposition to any proposal that calls for increased spending or any potential tax hikes. Republicans regularly note state budgets in Illinois have risen from about $40 billion to more than $50 billion in the past decade under Democratic leadership. 'The Democrats' answer for tax reform is revenue. More revenue. We need to be looking at this as a holistic approach,' said House GOP leader Tony McCombie of Savanna. 'We know we need to lower our corporate income tax here in Illinois. We know, every one of us, as we're getting our property tax bills with increases this year, we know we have to have some real reform there and we cannot piecemeal this.' An April report from the legislature's Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability showed the state's revenue growth has fallen $471 million short of the $55 billion in state revenues Pritzker used in his February budget proposal. The bleak financial outlook makes the challenge of addressing reforms and funding to Chicago-area and downstate transit systems especially tough. The Chicago area's transit infrastructure faces a projected fiscal cliff of hundreds of millions of dollars as COVID-pandemic-related federal funds are set to run out by the beginning of next year. Prompted by years of customer dissatisfaction, a proposal to combine the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, Pace and the Regional Transportation Authority is now on the table but has been met with pushback from labor groups. Legislation tying a bailout of the CTA to limits on the mayor's influence on the transit boards is also being considered. There have also been discussions about a single police force for all Chicago-area transit systems. The RTA, which oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace, wants Springfield to allocate $1.5 billion in new funding to overhaul the system. The CTA has outlined a doomsday scenario for Chicago-area transit if lawmakers don't act on reforms and funding by May 31. 'The magnitude of these cuts is unprecedented and would require several rounds of schedule adjustments in 2026 and beyond,' CTA spokesperson Catherine Hosinski has said. Orlando Rojas, a train conductor for Metra, said there's been talk that 300 jobs, possibly including train conductors and engineers, could be in jeopardy at the agency if transit reforms and accompanying funding aren't put into place in the near future. 'The jobs would basically … be a lot less desirable and probably, you know, have to work longer hours, less desirable hours, just to meet the needs of the remaining service,' said Rojas, a union representative for Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation Local 653. Sarah Chiappe, a line cook at a downtown Chicago hotel, takes the Red Line or a bus to work for her 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift. She said she worries that cuts in service could require her to take more expensive ride-sharing options home more often. 'I love taking the train. It gives me a chance to clear my mind on my way to work,' Chiappe said. 'I can finish book after book instead of going through the stressfulness of driving a car everyday to work. But God knows that road rage is a real thing in the city.' One key lawmaker involved in transit talks, Sen. Ram Villivalam, said he's 'cautiously optimistic' there could be some sort of resolution on the transit issue by the end of the month. 'We're continuing our conversations. There's a lot of consensus as it relates to centralizing responsibilities such as fare policies, capital planning, service planning and so much more, to a central authority,' Villivalam said last week. 'And I think we're continuing to stay with our mantra of no funding without reform.' Lawmakers could also consider changes to the state's pension system that grants greater benefits to recipients who were employed by the state prior to 2011, when changes to the massively underfunded system took effect, compared with workers hired since then. The goal of the Tier 2 plan created back then was to shrink a pension debt that now runs to about $141 billion. However, at some point, benefits paid out under the system won't be equal to what Social Security would provide to those employees, a violation of a federal 'safe harbor' law. This would require the state to pay large sums in Social Security taxes instead of operating its own pension system which, while still costly, allows the state more flexibility. The Pritzker administration has proposed allocating $78 million toward addressing the Tier 2 issue, a figure that Sen. Robert Martwick, a key lawmaker involved in the pension negotiations, thinks could rise as negotiations continue. 'There are different benefit structures throughout the state of Illinois and that means a one-size-fits-all is difficult. But I think we're (homing) in. We've had serious discussions between the House and the Senate, and the governor's office, and I feel like we're narrowing in on a potential solution,' said Martwick, a Chicago Democrat. He acknowledged the goal is to make moderate changes to pension guidelines as they relate to an employee's final average salary, retirement age and other factors. 'I think there are all kind of ingredients. I don't know that we'll do all of them, or to what degree we'll do any of them,' he said. 'But those are all the different (things) that we're working on, trying to come up with a solution that works for the state, works for the taxpayers, works for our employees.' While the Bears signaled earlier this month they aren't seeking significant state funding for a new stadium, the team does acknowledge a move to Arlington Heights would be contingent on legislative action allowing for the negotiated financing of large-scale developments. This so-called megaproject legislation would allow them to negotiate with local governments over property tax bills. But passing such a measure quickly might be a tall order, especially for Chicago lawmakers with an interest in keeping the team in the city. There are at least three megaprojects-related bills sitting in the legislature that could provide the Bears some sort of path to work on with lawmakers in trying to ease their move to Arlington Heights if the northwest suburb officially becomes their new home. 'Apparently the Bears have made a proposal on what version, which is a combination of all three, that they want to negotiate,' Sen. Mark Walker, an Arlington Heights Democrat who is sponsoring one of those bills, said May 16, the day the Bears announced their shift in focus to Arlington Heights. 'So that's going to be under negotiation in the next couple of weeks.' Also up in the air are elements of Pritzker's legislative agenda, a menu that includes legislation involving consumer protection, education, local governance and abortion rights, one of the governor's signature issues. One measure passed by the Senate and awaiting approval from the House would provide more protections under Illinois' 2023 shield law, which prevents health care workers from facing disciplinary action by the state if, for instance, they provide abortion care to someone from another state that has more stringent abortion restrictions. The legislation also would ensure prescribing abortion medications such as mifepristone would remain legal in the state even if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revokes approval, as long as the World Health Organization recommends their use. Democrats have warned that access to these drugs could be jeopardized following declarations toward that end by Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation policy group thought to have influence on the Trump White House. Passed by the Senate and awaiting a House vote is a Pritzker-backed bill that would require school districts to adopt guidelines to prohibit students from using cellphones during instructional time, while providing secure and accessible storage for the devices, before the 2026-27 school year. The bill provides exceptions that would allow students to use phones during an emergency, when a teacher authorizes the device for instruction, when a phone can assist students with a disability or when the device is necessary for a student learning English. Another Pritzker initiative would allow the state to impose regulations on the cryptocurrency industry, which has come under scrutiny for leaving customers vulnerable to fraud. Digitized cryptocurrency can be used for electronic payments through the internet that are usually not controlled by a government body or authoritative entity, and the Trump administration has been friendly to the industry, stopping investigations into crypto businesses and litigation against at least one company. Two bills calling for the cryptocurrency regulations are before the General Assembly, and each has passed through one chamber. The governor is also pushing legislation that would regulate pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, companies that act as intermediaries among drugmakers, insurance corporations and pharmacies. The legislation, among other things, would prevent PBMs from sending patients to pharmacies where they have a financial interest and it would also include prohibiting PBMs from pocketing certain savings on medications. A bill that is expected to include language for a Pritzker-led measure that would allow some community colleges to offer four-year degrees advanced through the House Executive Committee Friday. But Democratic Rep. Curtis Tarver of Chicago at that hearing said, 'The Black Caucus has some concerns about the concept and the bill in general.' Another Pritzker initiative awaiting consideration by lawmakers would grant voters the ability to decide whether to consolidate township governments, including as a potential solution to lower property taxes. All of those issues could be addressed as lawmakers continue to press to get money for programs and services they want in the coming year, even as Pritzker has indicated the answer will often be 'No.' 'There are still those priorities that individuals want to see addressed in the budget, making sure that we're protecting our most vulnerable, making sure that we're providing for our seniors,' Sims, the chief budget negotiator for the Senate Democrats, said. 'So those kinds of things, those discussions are ongoing. I imagine we'll continue to do that over the next week.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ben Johnson Addresses Huge Caleb Williams Controversy
I feel like I'm watching The Color Purple when Nettie told Mister, 'nothing but death can keep me from it.' Really, it's not that dramatic, but I did feel like something wicked was trying to ruin the peace and tranquility attached to the Chicago Bears' offseason when excerpts of Seth Wickersham's book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback, leaked. Getty Images For those who are unaware, Wickersham's book seemed to expose the fact that Williams and his dad sought to circumvent the NFL's rules in an effort to avoid being drafted by the Bears ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Advertisement This wasn't a situation where Johnson had to say anything. But he did anyway—on his own terms. He walked into the press conference and made sure Bears fans knew that he nor the organization was running to hide from the story. Johnson addressed the controversy about the book without being asked. 'It's come to my attention that the quarterback's been out in the media over the last week, Johnson said. 'And just to get out in front of that a little bit, I just wanted to say I wasn't here last year. And so I can't speak too much in terms of what it was like before he got here and when he got here last year. But from my four months on the job, he's been outstanding to work with and we just are focusing on getting a little better every day.' Here is a look at the segment from Johnson's presser. Let's be frank, no Bears fan is thrilled to learn that Williams didn't want to be a part of the organization. However, that was then, and this is now. Advertisement He's a part of the team and based on his on-field actions, Williams hasn't behaved like a guy who wants out. Johnson has asserted himself as the kind of leader every quarterback should want to play for, and all will be well if the upcoming season is a success. As for Williams' dad, we need not worry about that too much. As young players get older and mature, the opinions of their parents still matter, but they don't shape the player's decisions as much as they might have fresh out of college. If Williams is happy, successful and paid, he'll be fine. And the Bears will be too. Related: Bears Sign Pro-Bowler to Crucial Extension Related: Bears Coach Confirms Luther Burden III Will Get Opportunity to Beat Out Former Pro Bowler for Spot
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caleb Williams' negative perception of Bears was right and that's why they need Ben Johnson to succeed
The Chicago Bears' problem is that nothing Caleb Williams or his father said about them was wrong. The story that Williams tried to steer his way out of being drafted by the Bears last year isn't new, but there are some new details revealed in an ESPN preview of Seth Wickersham's upcoming book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback." Among the details was the Williams family wondering if Caleb could play a season in the United Football League and then enter the NFL as a free agent in 2025. That's desperation to avoid Chicago. "Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," Caleb's father Carl Williams said in the book. Chicago fans or those who disapprove of player empowerment in general might get mad that Caleb Williams contemplated trying to circumvent the draft. But the truth is, he thought about it because Chicago is where quarterbacks go to die. And nothing about how the Bears handled Williams' rocky rookie season changed that perception either, starting with saddling him with a defensive-minded head coach already on the hot seat. The Bears needed to hire Ben Johnson to help fix years of quarterback futility. And now they need him to succeed. Badly. Through the early part of the offseason, there were reports that the Bears might not pay up for a top coaching candidate. There was an abundance of speculation that Johnson, considered either the best candidate on the market or second behind Mike Vrabel, would go to the Las Vegas Raiders. Johnson had great seasons as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator and was in high demand. The Bears stepped up and got the deal done to hire Johnson. Maybe they realized they were in danger of completely alienating an elite prospect who was supposed to finally dig the franchise out of its horrific quarterback history. In the book preview, the Williams family was skeptical of then-Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and his offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, and their skepticism proved to be correct. In one startling passage, Williams said he would watch film alone without any coaching guidance. "No one tells me what to watch," Caleb Williams told his dad, via Wickersham's book. "I just turn it on." Johnson was brought in to change that culture, which has been a reason Bears quarterbacks haven't succeeded for decades. And if you read between the lines on what Johnson told "The Herd" on Thursday, in response to the excerpts from Wickersham's book, it's clear he too needs to distance himself from the Bears' past. "I don't know what's gone on prior to him joining the organization, but he is very proud to be a Chicago Bear," Johnson told "The Herd" via Jeremy Bergman of "He's really excited to get to work right now and be the best version of himself for 2025." Chicago truly is where quarterbacks go to die. The Bears haven't had a first-team All-Pro quarterback since 1950. Since 1963, only two Bears quarterbacks have made the Pro Bowl. Jim McMahon was on the team in 1985 and Mitchell Trubisky made it in 2018 as a replacement. The Bears have famously never had a 4,000-yard season from a quarterback. It's fairly amazing the Bears have never figured out the modern passing game. Williams' father was right to be wary of sending his son to a franchise that has never developed a star at quarterback, unless you count Sid Luckman about 80 years ago. Williams had a tough rookie season. Some of his stats were fine but he took a league-leading 68 sacks and often looked overwhelmed. Waldron was fired and Williams had maybe his best stretch with Thomas Brown as the team's interim offensive coordinator. In typical Bears fashion, they screwed up that momentum by promoting Brown to interim head coach when they fired Eberflus. The Bears have done plenty this offseason to help Williams. Johnson was hired and he is considered one of the best offensive minds in the NFL. The Bears got three new starters for the interior of their offensive line. They drafted tight end Colston Loveland in the first round and receiver Luther Burden III in the second round. With all the moves the Bears have made to build up around Williams, he should succeed. There's a lot of pressure for Johnson and the team to get it right. But this is the Bears. There is an entire Super Bowl era's worth of history working against Johnson and Williams. If the Bears can't get it right with Williams, the next quarterback prospect they eye in the draft might actually follow through on what Williams contemplated.
