Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – In the wake of the legislative session, which ended early Monday, it’s time to take stock of what to do about issues which did not pass. In Springfield, a big one is a bill to create a “Capital Area Tourism Authority” to guide the expansion of the Bank of Springfield Center and construct a major new hotel.
The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield), passed the Senate. The House never took it up.
The debate against the bill, including that from Springfield’s other state senator, fueled frequent council critic Ken Pacha Tuesday night. “It’s kind of a suspect bill, isn’t it?” Pacha asked. “Lot of questionable stuff in there that still needs to be worked out, especially when an entire statewide hoteliers’ association opposes it, right?” Pacha scoffed at the idea that tourism can improve downtown to the extent needed.
“This is like the Springfield trifecta,” said State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) as the bill was being debated early Monday. “This is corruption, this is tax increases, and this is incompetence. It’s like the Triple Crown of this town.”
State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) said the bill is all wrong for existing hotels. “To force all of my constituents who own hotels in Sangamon County to pay for their competition, when they already can’t fill their own rooms, for some sort of government-run hotel is not a good idea.”
After Tuesday’s council meeting, Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher maintained a positive attitude. “There is a particular piece in that bill that I definitely want to see go forward, sooner than later, and it is the historic tax credit piece for the older buildings downtown,” said the mayor. “That is a really important piece to me that I worked with (Sen. Turner) on, because we have these older buildings that are vacated. They are very expensive to renovate, and that was going to help with that expense, so I am looking forward to seeing that come to fruition.”
Buscher hopes the bill can pass during the fall veto session, if not sooner. Pacha was the only person who discussed the subject during Tuesday’s meeting.
