(The Center Square) – The Indiana Senate has passed a bill that, if signed by the governor, would create a commission to study the possibility of a relocation of the Illinois-Indiana state line to annex disgruntled Illinois counties.
“We’re just signaling to those Illinois counties that Indiana is open for business and we’d be happy to accept them,” said the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville. He added that the economies of the counties would grow under Indiana’s low regulation, low-tax business environment.
Thirty-three counties have passed an advisory referendum indicating their desire to leave Illinois, with seven voting in the most recent November election. No county, most of which are located in rural areas of central and southern Illinois, has voted down a secession referendum, with the election results averaging 74% in favor.
“Essentially, were Illinois and Indiana to redraw their border, the matter of Illinois secession of counties would be of minor national impact,” said Ryan McMaken, executive director of the Mises Institute and author of the book “Breaking Away: The Case of Secession, Radical Decentralization and Smaller Politics.”
An analysis by RedStateSecession.org shows that certain groups of counties would be a financial benefit to Indiana, such as the eastern half of central Illinois with 1.1 million people, because they have a higher average income than Indiana does.
The group notes that although Illinois officials have dismissed the idea, a debt crisis could force Illinois to reconsider the option, as relocating state lines could provide an influx of cash to state coffers.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he is skeptical about the prospect of any county leaving the state.
“It’s a stunt and it’s not going to happen, but I’ll just say that Indiana is a low-wage state that doesn’t protect workers, does not provide health care for people when they’re in need,” said Pritzker.
The Indiana House will now consider changes in the legislation before it is sent to the governor.
