>> Well, the blitz is on as Indiana pushes to become the new home of the Chicago Bears state lawmakers there are considering a bill that would allow a government authority to buy land and finance the construction of a new NFL stadium.

The bill passed out of Indiana state Senate last week by a 46 to 2 vote and now heads to the House.

It has the support of Indiana Governor Mike Braun and Bears leadership.

Joining us is one of the bill's sponsors, Indiana State Representative Earl Harris Junior, a Democrat whose district includes East chicago Representative Harris.

Thanks for being with us.

We appreciate it.

>> Thanks for having me.

Appreciate the opportunity.

>> So as we mentioned, you are backing this bill to create a northwest Indiana Stadium authority.

What with that body be allowed to do?

>> Yeah.

That body really will be responsible for a lot of the financial think so.

In terms of purchases of lands that are necessary.

Construction leases, anything in that round.

This body will take care of and make sure of it's another step in the process of drawing the bears in attracting them to come to northwest Indiana.

>> So there have been a few different sites floated for a potential stadium.

We've heard of one in Hammond, multiple in Gary.

Have you or your fellow lawmakers been looking into any specific locations already been focusing more on, as you say, the framework for helping to build a new stadium.

>> There are some specific locations targeted when you look at the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, which is pretty close to the state line.

There are also 3 locations in Gary.

One is near what's now hardrock.

There will be a convention center there.

So there's room for a stadium there.

The Miller Beach area, which is on the lakefront and near the Gary Airport.

So those other predominant 4 locations were targeting.

>> And what if you heard from constituents either yours or or other Indiana residents about the possibility of bear stadium in Indiana.

>> It's a lot of excitement at the state house and I'm going to say almost every day I'm asked about it here when I'm at home.

You know, when we're back for the weekend, whether it's family, whether it's friends, whether I'm at the gym, people are excited about the opportunity of the bears coming in.

You know, if you're you know this, obviously that when you look at the Chicago Gary Hammond, where I live in represent, we watched Chicago television.

So people are bears.

Bulls socks.

Well, I Co's Blackhawks, cetera, fans because that's what we see.

And that's what we're close to.

So a lot of excitement about this.

>> You know, here in Illinois are sports finance authorities to lows more than 500 million dollars in principal and interest on the soldier field renovations from back in.

'03, as well as 50 million dollars on the Sox ballpark.

That opened in 91.

Are you concerned about those sorts of potential financial obligations for Indiana taxpayers when it comes to a new stadium?

>> You know, the reality is Indiana sports to things like this very well.

When you look at the Pacers, you look at the coat.

You look at the speedway, we're very good at figuring out a good financial plan that does not hurt the taxpayer.

So those conversations are happening.

That work will continue so that we can devise the best option for the bears come over and make sure that taxpayers don't take a big hit.

>> You know, in for a lot of Illinois lawmakers who have been somewhat more lukewarm about than you and your colleagues there saying, you know, Bear Stadium isn't necessarily a top priority that they're focusing more on affordability rather than you know, 30 Lee well off franchise like the Bears.

What do you make of that argument from your colleagues over here?

>> You that argument has helped Indiana has a very good climate for business.

We have been working on drawing more into northwest Indiana bill.

I authored they became law last year created the sports Commission.

So this fits in our wheelhouse.

When you look at the governor, you look at the House, you look at the Senate doesn't matter if your RD, there's so much excitement about this in Indiana.

And so nothing against Illinois.

I do obviously like what's going on on the other side, the state line.

I love Chicago.

But they're not as interested in keeping the Bears, we definitely are interested in having them come over to northwest Indiana.

Well, and it feels like you talk about that excitement, you know, with the governor with your colleagues in the General Assembly, this feels like something that's moved fairly quickly.

You know, not that long ago the Bears were all in on Arlington Heights.

>> course, there's been a great deal of back and forth about the stadium citing here.

it feels as though you and your colleagues in Indiana were ready to move fairly quickly on this.

Is that fair to say?

>> Yeah, that's fair to say that Indiana.

Again, we're have a great business climate.

We have a great interest in professional sports.

We've been targeting northwest Indiana for economic development.

There's a whole plan and thought on how we build up northwest Indiana.

So we're very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to how it continues as we continue throughout the rest of session.

>> You know, the Bears came out in support of this measure when it was initially introduced.

We also saw NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell touring Indiana.

Have you and your colleagues been in direct contact with the Bears with the NFL itself?

>> Yeah, there's been a lot of conversation going beyond.

You know, that's those are things that are happening obviously involved in this in one of the things I'm glad you pointed out is that the NFL commissioner came to northwest Indiana.

He's a little busy.

So the fact that he actually put feet on the ground in northwest Indiana, looking at the sites we've discussed.

That means a lot.

And so we're you know, we're continuing this conversation, continue to work on this.

We have Senate Bill 27, which is connected to bringing the Bears over.

creates the northwest Indiana Stadium Authority.

So we're continuing this process and we're working to get this done.

>> And do you expect that bill authorizing the authority to pass before you journey just a few weeks?

Well, I mean, yeah, that, you know, you just pointed out, we're going to be done in a few weeks.

This is a short session for us.

>> It's moving.

It's been it's already passed out of the Senate.

It's over with us in the House.

It's been assigned to ways and means which is the committee.

I'm on.

So we're expecting and hoping for it to be on the calendar soon so that we can discuss it in continue to move it through the process.

On the House side.

>> And should this bill pass and be signed into law?

Do you have any sense of how long it might take for an actual stadium deal to come together?

>> I'm going to presume that's going to happen fast as well.

Because again, that's how we work things here in Indiana.

We want to get things done as soon as possible.

Let's get locked in and let's get moving so we can start in terms of locking in the location, start construction.

Obviously all the planning that goes along with the stadium and some excuse that will be involved in it as well.

So a very big project in the sooner we start, the better.

>> Yeah, I would imagine you're looking at not just the stadium itself, but perhaps what the larger areas going to look like.

Some infrastructure, some other development.

Is that accurate?

>> Yeah, that's accurate.

And wherever site, whatever site is that shows and they'll have to be some work done to it.

And then just planning out how we do a stadium in the mix used to make shoes is gonna also help in terms of drawing in other business opportunities, providing House housing restaurants, offices, cetera.

So there's a lot of excitement about what this will mean for the growth of especially northwest Indiana, but really high would impact the entire state.

>> All right.

Well, Illinois and Indiana might be in in competition on this one, but we love our who's your neighbors all the same state