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* Some folks always want to take their ball and go home if they don’t win. The folks leading this charge definitely fall into that category…
Several counties in Illinois on Tuesday passed nonbinding resolutions by wide margins to create a new state, separate from Chicago and Cook County.
Questions posed to voters in various counties asked if they should join with others outside of Cook County to create a new state.
In Clay County, nearly 80 percent of voters approved the question. Nearly 73 percent of Shelby County voters approved, while 63 percent of Christian County voters did so and in Crawford County, nearly 76 percent of the voters said yes.
A group tracking the movement, called Red State Secession, counted 24 counties that approved it, with most votes being between 70 percent to 80 percent in favor.
Last month, the chairman of New Illinois, a nonprofit group organizing the efforts, said it’s about constitutional rights to representation.
“The guarantees clause of the U.S. Constitution, it guarantees us a republican form of government,” Merritt said. “What’s that? That’s where we have a voice, where we’re represented, but unfortunately our state government is very Chicago focused. Laws get passed, policies get put in place that may be in the best interest of a large urban area but they’re not in the best interest of a rural state like Illinois.”
[Headline explained here.]
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:24 am
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Can I go with Chicago instead?
==That’s where we have a voice, where we’re represented==
Most of the time, my voice is in the minority downstate and ignored. Everybody is outnumbered at some level of government, unless you are a government of one.
Comment by Jibba Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:40 am
What current services does the state provide these counties? It looks like they will partially get their wish with the failed CA. Great timing.
Comment by 1st Ward Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:42 am
Cook County has over 5,000,000 residents.
Clay, Shelby, Christian, and Crawford counties total less than 90,000 residents combined.
More people in the US caught the virus yesterday than that. This is a time that requires serious people, tackling serious issues. Let’s try to do that for a change.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:45 am
“a republican form of government,” … “What’s that? That’s where we have a voice, where we’re represented…”
You have elected representatives who are in a political super minority. Your elected representatives are running around spouting conspiracy theories and filling frivolous lawsuits.
If your elected officials aren’t being heard or adequately representing your regions interests, then perhaps you should find someone else to better serve in government.
By the way, if 27 rural counties are able to form a new state, how are you going to pay for the new government?
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:45 am
IL is not a rural state. It is a rural state, an urban state and a suburban state.
Republican government means you get a vote. Are representatives from downstate being deprived their rights to vote? Republican government does not mean you get to win your way all the time.
Rural areas got many things they wanted back when they could build coalitions with suburban areas. But without that ability and with a shrinking share of the population, they do not often prevail.
Maybe they should reexamine coalition building with other parts of the state? It would be a start if they could distinguish the difference between Kankakee, Oswego, Chicago, Oak Park, and Winnetka.
And yes, it would also help if folks from the regions named above could distinguish Cairo, Charleston, Effingham, and Springfield. But notice Chicago, the suburbs, and the exurbs aren’t trying to throw the rest of the state out of the state.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:46 am
Repeating my comment from previous post
But the largest impact of state spending in relation to other economic activity is downstate.
State spending is equivalent to 11.1% of total income across this 96 county region. But this
average hides much larger variations across the sub regions. The 18 county North region is not
too far from Cook County with state expenditures at 8.5% of income. The Central region is
significantly higher at 12.4% of regional income. And in the Southern 19 counties—clearly the
poorest part of the state—state expenditures are equivalent to 19.9% of total income.
https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1059&context=ppi_papers
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:49 am
Well we should give the good residents of Christian County what they want by starting with closing the prison in Taylorville. The residents of Taylorville will enjoy their new jobs at the local Hucks.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 11:52 am
I think they are confusing “republican” government with “Republican” government. You are guaranteed the former, not the latter.
Comment by JoanP Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:08 pm
JoanP wins the day.
Comment by Jibba Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:11 pm
Let ‘em leave. Then Mississippi won’t be last in everything.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:14 pm
Rich, which 24 counties approved it? Did any counties say no?
Comment by Mama Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:21 pm
Hey downstate. Don’t let the new state line hit you in the backside while you’re leaving. PS Can I help carry your stuff to the car?
Comment by SouthSide Markie Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:21 pm
Growing up in Crawford County and later living in Springfield and later still the Metro East, my advice to those people is “Be careful what you wish for.”
I said many years ago that “New Illinois” will be like Iowa… without the rural charm.
Comment by Vote Quimby Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:25 pm
Instead of starting a new state government, counties wanting to leave Illinois should ask to be annexed by the closest neighboring state (Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky).
Comment by Unstable Genius Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:32 pm
These individuals always talk of seceeding from Cook county. A couple decades ago DuPage was red enough to at least entertain the thought to go with them. The last few elections have shown it’d be highly unlikely now.
Without Cook and DuPage, where do they think they’ll get money?
And when they start eyeing Lake and Kane for the money, do they really think those counties will want to in that position either?
Comment by jimbo Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:36 pm
Maybe the legislators who started this can adequately explain to their retired GOP employees how downstate Illinois would be able to adequately fund their pensions.
These GOP legislators and their supporters would effectively gut the pensions of retired teachers, prison guards and other state employees. But hey, they must be ok with that.
Comment by Medvale School for the Gifted Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:43 pm
Appeasement didn’t work before, and it will not work now.
Can we take off the gloves now? I’m done trying to compromise with a bloc who has no interest in compromise unless their demands are met 100% of the time.
A good start would be a house member issuing a house resolution to reduce the LGDF, and include in the text every single town below 25k and the reduction in state funds they would get. Lets put these cuts to paper already. This hemming and hawing is accomplishing nothing.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 12:51 pm
Bye Felicia
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 1:10 pm
I live in Christian County and am just embarrassed by the ignorance and racism that surround me. I like the roads, bridges, and job opportunities subsidized by Chicago land. Which, by the way, is a great place to visit.
Comment by Papa2008 Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 1:50 pm
The anger is palpable, but also misguided.
At this point…
This is a Facebook fun poll someone has… “Hat or No Hat”
It’s that pathetic.
All hat, no cattle. Hope they feel better. Yelling at clouds helps.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 1:52 pm
If only we could just…trade them to Indiana or something.
Comment by In 630 Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 1:54 pm
Can’t wait for 2022 when ILLixit is on the ballot.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 2:00 pm
I used to tell my constituents that a bill to remove Chicago from the State would be called immediately after the bill to make Danville the State Capitol passes.
Activity posing as work.
Comment by Chad Hays Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 2:13 pm
What’s all the angst about here? On a national level Democrats have threatened to stack the Supreme Court and add more states to take over the Senate. The Eastern Block State would seem to fit into their plans except they would probably elect Republican Senators to Washington./snark
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 2:29 pm
“closest neighboring state” It’s a long walk from Christian county to any neighboring state.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:07 pm
“On a national level Democrats have threatened to stack the Supreme Court and add more states to take over the Senate.” Well, speaking of representative governments, how about a President elected by the majority?
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:08 pm
When I worked for a state agency in 2006 when the State’s Human Rights Ordinance protecting people based on sexual orientation. We were rolling out some basic guidance on not discriminating and the only place that pushed back was the Mattoon office. I was told they were the buckle in the bible belt and didn’t need to have Chicago values forced on them. That told me a lot about the values of people in that part of the state.
Comment by City Guy Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:14 pm
They should go for it. I would love to be there when they figured out what their taxes would be and how much debt they would inherit.
They have my full support.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:19 pm
“how much debt they would inherit.” That would be an interesting thought experiment. How much of the pension debt would get transferred to New Illinois? The alone would keep the lawyers employed for quite some time.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 3:39 pm
If they would be the new Mississippi it might not be all bad. Mississippi gave us Walter Payton and the blues.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 4:02 pm
=== What’s all the angst about here? On a national level Democrats have threatened to stack the Supreme Court and add more states===
Neither presidential candidate wants to stack the Supreme Court so the Democrats who want that won’t get far.
Adding more states is the right thing to do, why should we have territories? Why should Washington DC have taxation without representation? Washington DC would add one Democrat to the House, Puerto Rico would add one Republican member to the House. American Samoa would add a Republican member to the House.
=== how much debt they would inherit===
I would guess they would inherit 74% of the pension debt since 74% of the state workers work outside the Chicago metro area.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Nov 5, 20 @ 6:46 pm
===Neither presidential candidate..===
Oops, I mean the president elect.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Nov 6, 20 @ 9:13 am