Illinois lawmakers file amended bill in effort to keep Chicago Bears ahead of decisive meetings

There were late developments Wednesday night in the battle for the Bears. An amendment to a bill that would guide how the state helps the Bears stay in Illinois was filed down in Springfield.

The amendment from Chicago-area state Rep. Kam Buckner outlines tax breaks on infrastructure the state would provide to entice the Bears to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, where the McCaskey family already owns the old Arlington Raceway.

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House Bill 910, the revised mega project bill that was supposed to be heard last week but got canceled at the last minute, is expected to be brought up in a committee meeting Thursday morning in Springfield, and perhaps even get to the floor of the legislature for a vote.

Governor JB Pritzker was talking tough in an interview on MS NOW Wednesday night.

"I am not going to be shaken down by the Bears and I have set out some very clear guidelines and my guidelines we are not going to fleece the taxpayers of Illinois let the Bears do that," Pritzker said. "If we do something which supports the Bears which we are working very hard on, it is not something that is going to cost our taxpayers the way it is going to cost Indiana taxpayers."

Meanwhile, Indiana lawmakers are expected to send their own bill to their governor on Thursday, clearing the way to fund a stadium in Hammond.

"They are going to raise... taxes and I don't think the people of Indiana have any idea what they are in for and they are going to pay for a stadium for the Chicago Bears," Pritzker said.

House lawmakers in Indiana have approved a bill to invest $1 billion into a stadium for Hammond. The bill now heads to the state Senate before going to the governor.

While the Bears have scouted the Wolf Lake site, the team has yet to commit.

"Here in Illinois, we continue to have really positive discussions with the Bears, and I think you'll see the progress over time here," Gov. JB Pritzker said.

If the Indiana Senate passes the bill as expected, it heads straight to the governor's desk for a signature.

"The excitement around northwest Indiana is at an all-time high. Every time we check another box, everybody gets a little more excited about this opportunity," said Phil Taillon, with South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.

Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is kicking off an online petition to keep the Bears in Illinois.

Quinn will be out at the George Halas statue in front of Soldier Field to get the word out about the beardownforillinois.com petition.

He says he wants fans to band together and tell the owners to keep the team in Illinois.

Amid the battle outside the city, the city of Chicago is also still technically in the running to keep the Bears.