Group seeking to create new state from Illinois set to hold convention
An organization that wants to create a new state out of part of Illinois without Cook County will have its yearly convention next weekend.
"New Illinois" is a nonprofit educational group that wants Illinois residents to know about their right to pursue the creation of a new state.
The group points to high taxes and shrinking influence at the state capital as reasons why.
"We've have talked to people who are in townships on the fringe of Cook County who say they really want to escape," said New Illinois Chair G.H. Merritt.
New Illinois will have its seventh convention April 4 and 5 in downstate Bloomington.
Separately from this push, voters in 33 Illinois counties have approved non-binding ballot measures saying they no longer want to be part of Illinois.
An Indiana lawmaker has rolled out the welcome mat for people in Illinois who want to join the Hoosier State. Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston said he introduced the legislation after seven downstate Illinois counties — Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Iroquois, Jersey, Madison, and Perry — voted in November on a ballot referendum to secede from the state.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, however, calls the whole thing nothing more than a stunt.
