(The Center Square) – Some Indiana lawmakers want to change their state’s border and welcome 33 Illinois counties that want to leave their state.
Over the past few years, 33 of Illinois’ 102 have voted to leave the state.
The most recent string of southern Illinois counties supporting secession included Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Iroquois, Jersey, Madison, and Perry, all of which voted to secede from the state in November.
Instead of creating a new state, like some of the counties want, the Republican-majority Indiana General Assembly wants to adjust Indiana’s border and welcome the unhappy counties into the Hoosier state.
The plan to create the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Committee easily passed the Indiana House of Representatives recently and is now before the Senate.
“If those Illinois counties want to separate from their state, we think they should consider joining Indiana,” said Rep. Jack Jordan, R-Bremen. “Indiana offers a great quality of life and for those Illinois residents who feel like they are being ignored, we would happily welcome them to our state.”
For the commission to become a reality, the Democratic-majority Illinois General Assembly would have to pass a similar law. Both state legislatures and Congress would need to approve any boundary change.
“To me, Indiana is home and it’s the best state to work, live and raise a family,” Jordan said. “Our door is open, and we would love to see even more Illinois residents choose to become Hoosiers.”
Critics, however, say Indiana should focus on helping Hoosiers rather than trying to expand the state’s boundaries.
“During the hearing on this secession bill, I listened to the testimonies of the people from Illinois and related to their concerns,” Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, said. “I understood their frustration. They live in an area where they feel politically underrepresented. Where they struggle to have their voices heard. But their challenge stems from living in a state dominated by a Democratic majority.
“We in Indiana face the opposite reality. Here, urban areas are underrepresented in this chamber, even though the majority of Indiana’s tax base comes from the Democratic side of the aisle. Yet, as a superminority, we have little say on critical issues like the state budget or education policy.”
