A bill passed this week by Indiana lawmakers would create a commission to explore bringing numerous Illinois counties into the state, with the Illinois counties previously voting on being in a state other than Chicago.
Also known as the “border bill,” the legislation would establish an “Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission,” with six members appointed by Indiana’s governor and five members appointed under Illinois law.
The bill now heads to the desk of Gov. Mike Braun, where it awaits his signature.
The legislation comes as more than 30 Illinois counties have passed referendums expressing a desire to explore the possibility of severing ties with Illinois over what they believe to be a stark difference in values and ideals from those of Cook County, where a plurality of the state’s population resides and most of the state’s political power is centered.
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The Indiana bill was authored by House Speaker Todd Huston, and passed through committee and the full House last week.
“To all of our neighbors in the west, we hear your frustrations and invite you to join us in low-cost, low-tax Indiana,” Huston has said, according to the Indianapolis Star.
Even if Braun signs the legislation, Illinois would have to pass similar legislation, which is not considered likely given the state’s Democratic Party majority in both chambers of the General Assembly.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker dismissed talk of Indiana taking counties from Illinois as a “stunt.”
“It’s not going to happen,” he recently said. “But I’ll just that say Indiana is a low-wage state that doesn’t protect workers, a state that does not provide health care for people when they’re in need and so I don’t think it’s very attractive for anybody in Illinois.”
In previous election cycles, more than 30 Illinois counties have evaluated non-binding referendums over the question of whether they would explore separating from Cook County and forming their own state. All of those counties have approved the measure, including Iroquois County, which is located roughly 75 miles south of Chicago.
The reasoning behind the referendums, according to supporters, is that the city of Chicago and Cook County have a sizable impact on the policies enacted by the state legislature, and rural counties share different interests that are not being represented by the actions of the General Assembly.
Many legal experts have expressed skepticism that such an effort would be successful on numerous fronts. To start, Illinois and Indiana legislators would both have to agree on territory that would move between the two states, and if that agreement were to be reached, the U.S. Congress would have to approve the move, as it has final say over all border debates between states.
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