Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – State Rep. Mike Coffey (pictured, right) (R-Springfield) could be the happiest man in Springfield now.

The morning after the Illinois House passed an economic development package which could help not only the Chicago Bears but downtown Springfield, Coffey said declaring downtown to be a special tourism district gives the city something important. “It gives you the tools you need for bonding capability. You can’t go to New York City and say, Mike and Dave are going to do this project. You need the power and the authority of the government to get these things finances and across the finish line.”

Doesn’t he mean the goal line?

Also in the package: expansion of the medical district, which includes the city’s two hospitals.

The bill‘s success in the Senate is far from a sure thing, and the Bears are not satisfied with the bill anyway. But Coffee and State Sen. Doris Turner (pictured, center) (D-Springfield) hope that the Springfield component of this passes even if the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) piece does not.