Assistant House Minority Leader and State Representative John M. Cabello (R-Machesney Park) issued the following statement after the Illinois House of Representatives adjourned Thursday without passing legislation aimed at securing an agreement to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois:
“Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said this week the odds of the Bears moving to Indiana are ‘Better than 50/50’. The Indiana Senate is expected to vote later today to give final approval on a Bears stadium-related bill. Meanwhile, Illinois Democrats chose to leave town for the next three weeks and risk losing the Bears thanks to JB Pritzker’s terrible negotiating skills.
Democrats have to this point made clear they don’t want Republicans’ input or partnership on passing any legislation beneficial to Illinois, including when it comes to keeping the Chicago Bears. Republicans have been excluded from negotiations on Bears-related legislation that our votes could be instrumental in passing. At today’s hearing I specifically pointed out that Republicans want to be a part of this process and do what is needed to keep the “Pride and Joy of Illinois” here in our home state while protecting taxpayers.
We’ve seen the devastating consequences of the Democrats go-it-alone approach. Since JB Pritzker became Governor, there have been 55 tax and fee increases costing taxpayers over $7 Billion a year. The State Auditor General reported finding $5.2 Billion in unemployment insurance fraud under JB Pritzker’s watch. Property taxes continue to skyrocket. Home energy prices are spiraling out of control thanks to Pritzker’s “Green New Giveaway”. The taxpayers of Illinois have been raked over the coals left and right.
There is a very real possibility that the Bears may ultimately choose to leave. Indiana continues to be aggressive in their pursuit while JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats fail to meet the urgency of the moment.
It’s time for Governor Pritzker to set his ego aside for once and work toward a truly bipartisan solution, working with Republicans to secure an agreement with the Bears that is beneficial to Illinois taxpayers.
Democrats control the agenda. They control the votes. The Speaker of the House often boasts that “winners do the work”, saying that Democrats enjoy a supermajority and will do whatever they want without Republican participation in the process. Too often – including now with the Bears’ future in Illinois at risk – that approach has resulted in delay, inaction, and failure. If we truly want to keep the Bears and do right by taxpayers, we need cooperation and a bipartisan solution.”
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John M. Cabello is the Assistant Minority Leader and State Representative for Illinois’ 90th House District, which includes the following communities in Winnebago, Stephenson, and Boone counties: Rockford, Machesney Park, Freeport, Roscoe, Loves Park, Rockton, South Beloit, Caledonia, Durand, Rock City, and Rockton.