Chicago Bears blocked from stadium help once again as legislative clock runs out

SPRINGFIELD — Another legislative session came and went without the Chicago Bears breaking the line of scrimmage in Springfield for legislation to help them build a new stadium.

With lawmakers scrambling to pass a state budget and agonizing over the future of mass transit , the Bears’ team of lobbyists was left on the Capitol sideline in their push for a bill that would potentially pave the way to a dome in Arlington Heights.

The Bears had eyed so-called “megadevelopment” legislation that would freeze property tax assessments for massive projects and allow them to negotiate payments with local taxing bodies. That would give the team the property tax certainty they say they need to break ground on a $5 billion suburban development.

Three bills surfaced in the General Assembly that could’