It also comes as a pivotal Illinois legislative hearing in Springfield that would impact the future of the Chicago Bears that was scheduled for Thursday was canceled.
The
hearing that was canceled concerned a controversial proposal to offer the Bears tax incentives and infrastructure support for a potential
new stadium in the northwest Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. But that hearing has been canceled.
CBS News Chicago is told lawmakers wanted to work through some additional details in the proposal, called the
Mega Project Assessment Freeze and Payment Law, before bringing it forward.
The legislation would allow the Bears – or the developers of other projects costing at least $500 million – to negotiate with local government to lock in how much they would pay in property taxes for years to come.
Supporters have said that kind of tax certainty is what's needed before the Bears invest billions into a new stadium and surrounding development, but critics have argued Illinois taxpayers shouldn't be in the business of helping fund an NFL franchise.
The proposal would freeze the Bears' property tax assessment for up to 40 years. While the Bears have said they would pay for the stadium themselves, they are seeking more than $850 million in state funding for necessary supporting infrastructure – such as new roads, upgraded utilities, and more.