Indiana lawmakers have passed a bill that would create a commission to explore inviting Illinois counties to join the Hoosier State. House Enrolled Act 1008, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, has now been sent to Gov. Mike Braun for consideration. The bill aims to address the cultural and political divide between rural Illinois and urban Chicago, with 33 counties in Illinois having already voted to leave the state, citing a lack of representation.
However, the process of actually annexing these counties into Indiana faces several challenges. Constitutional requirements dictate that approval from both state legislatures and Congress would be needed for counties to leave a state, which could be difficult given the political landscape in Illinois and Indiana. Illinois leaders have shown no interest in allowing counties to leave, and the Illinois Attorney General has issued an opinion that counties cannot leave the state on their own.
If Illinois leaders did change their stance and Congress approved, Indiana may still not want to accept these counties due to Illinois’ significant debt and the financial burden it could bring. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the cost to Indiana and the distraction from more pressing issues that the potential annexation could create. The bill has sparked a debate among secessionists in Illinois, with some preferring to form a new state, while a second group would consider joining Indiana or Missouri. Despite the challenges, the bill has brought attention to the issues surrounding the divide between different regions in Illinois and the desire for more representation.
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