* House Speaker Chris Welch was at the City Club today and was asked about prospects for the state helping the Bears build a new stadium and entertainment complex…

This is not to be insensitive to the Bears and their ownership, but when these folks are out knocking on doors right now, they’re hearing people talk about the cost of prescription drugs, about the premiums of their health care, insurance going up, grocery prices, rent. They’re talking about things related to cost of living.

I don’t know anyone that has knocked on a door and someone has said anything about the Chicago Bears. And I think we have to stay focused on the things that people care about right now, when folks say, what’s your priority is going into the legislative session, we’re trying to bring down the cost of living and talking about a brand new Bears stadium when this one’s not even 25 years old. That’s insensitive to what real people are going through right now.

My own opinion is if the state of Indiana – which just “balanced” its budget by “cutting public health and higher education funding” and using one-time revenue sources for ongoing spending – wants to feed the McCaskey family ego, let ‘em. Outsource the billionaire vanity burden to the Hoosier rubes.

* Also, Pearson made a good point…