Indiana takes the first step towards an unlikely effort to modify its borders and acquire parts of Illinois.
The Hoosier National Legislature passed a bill last week to establish the Indiana-Illinois Border Adjustment Commission, which recommends whether to change the border between the two states.
His office said Friday that Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, plans to sign the measure into law. The governor will then face a September 1 deadline to schedule the first meeting of the committee.
The conservative part of the blue state hopes to break through and join nearby red states
Indiana takes the first step towards an unlikely effort to modify its borders and acquire parts of Illinois. (AP)
This is because residents of some Illinois counties seek to separate from the densely populated and dark blue Chicago area.
But while support from the Indiana and Illinois counties will change states, the Illinois government and the U.S. Congress still need to approve plans to change national borders.
The top elected official in Illinois does not support the idea.
The Illinois Peer Act authorizes the state to participate in the committee changing borders and has not held a hearing on the Illinois House Committee. Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker also described Indiana measures earlier this year as “stunt.”
Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Braun plans to sign the measure into law. (Reuters/Elizabeth Franz)
The National Compact Center for the National Government Commission said that tiny border changes between countries are not a new idea, as there are at least 50 ideas in U.S. history. However, no significant changes have been made since the Civil War era, when some of Virginia counties separated to create West Virginia.
Part of the political department has driven the current efforts to change the border between Illinois and Indiana. The Chicago area is controlled by the Democrats, which also controls the state government given the large population of the region, while Republicans represent many other areas of Illinois. Meanwhile, the Indiana government is controlled by Republicans.
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Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker described Indiana's measures as “stunt.” (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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Voters in 33 Illinois counties have approved the voting measures over the past five years, asking them whether they want to consider separating Cook County, a county including Chicago, to form a new state. However, the initiative does not necessarily mean that they will join Indiana if there is a chance.
Similar efforts are underway in eastern Oregon, as some counties in Democratic-controlled countries want to break into and join Republican-led Idaho. The Idaho House approved a measure two years ago to allow Oregon to discuss, but no similar measures were taken as they remained stuck in the Oregon Legislature’s committee.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
