A bill aimed at redrawing the Indiana-Illinois border passed out of the Indiana House Thursday with the Speaker of the House suggesting that other Midwestern states join Indiana.
Indiana House Bill 1008, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, would establish an Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission to research the possibility of adjusting the boundaries between the two states. The commission would include five members appointed by the Indiana governor and five members appointed under Illinois law.
The bill passed 69-25, with three Democrats joining Republicans to approve the bill.
Huston suggested that parts of Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan should consider joining Indiana as well because since 2020 Indiana’s gross domestic product has been stronger compared to the other neighboring states.
“We’re welcome to all,” Huston said. “We’d love to have you because we always think it’s better to be growing than it is to meet the alternative. We’re proud of that growth, the fastest growing population state in the Midwest. This is an opportunity to share it, to raise our hands to others, to say, ‘We think we have a lot to offer.’”
Huston highlighted the differences between Indiana and Illinois. Indiana has a balanced budget, a triple-A credit rating, low debt, funded pensions and lower taxes while Illinois has unfunded pensions, an unbalanced budget and higher taxes.
“This isn’t a political vote. This is a chance to raise our hand and tell people, ‘Look, we’re awful proud to be Hoosiers. We think we have a heck of a lot to offer,’” Huston said. “Why wouldn’t we want to give other people the opportunity and the consideration to join us? That’s all this bill does.”
Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, said she supported the bill when it was heard in the House Government and Regulatory Reform committee Monday because as a Democrat representing Gary in a Republican Supermajority state she understands the way Republicans in Democratically-led Illinois feel.
“I understand what it means to be overlooked. Time and time again, legislation directly affecting Gary has been introduced and advanced by lawmakers from other areas without input from those of us who actually represent the community,” Hatcher said.
Hatcher asked the legislature to extend the same consideration to urban areas of Indiana that it currently is to those in Illinois.
“I urge this body to listen, not just to those from another state who are seeking a place in Indiana, but also to the voices of the communities that are already here. Let’s give the same attention and consideration to the concerns of Indiana’s own underrepresented regions as we do to those from outside our borders,” Hatcher said.
Ultimately, Hatcher voted against the bill Thursday.
Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, said the bill was “a super long shot” and “getting us off the real work that we have to do today.”
Rep. Jack Jordan, R-Bremen, said he was excited about the bill because, as someone who has lived in 10 states, he and his family have been happiest after moving to Indiana. In Indiana, his family has had positive business and educational opportunities.
“I’m glad that we’re opening up these discussions to our neighbors to the west. Hopefully, we can do them the favor that this state has done to our family,” Jordan said.
The House heard the bill for the first time Wednesday, with three Democratic lawmakers proposing amendments that would open the way for Indiana counties to leave the state, only allow Indiana to take fiscally responsible Illinois counties and legalize marijuana in Indiana.
All three amendments failed.
Rep. Ryan Dvorak proposed an amendment that would allow Indiana county councils to adopt a resolution to allow a ballot public question regarding the possibility of the county joining a different existing state or forming a new state.
Dvorak, D-South Bend, said he’s had an interest in state boundaries for many years, and he even discussed with colleagues how to propose a similar bill in previous sessions.
“It makes even more sense today for us as a nation that needs to function and live with each other to look at how we work and operate as a democratic republic, that we actually represent the will of our constituents. That gets harder and harder to do when you have larger and larger arbitrary boundaries enclosing whole different groups of people,” Dvorak said.
Hatcher asked Huston a similar question about Indiana counties, like Lake County, shifting into Illinois when the bill was in committee Monday. Huston said then that anything could be considered, but he cautioned against the idea.
“I’d think you’d want to take a good, hard, long look before you consider heading west what the consequences and the challenges that you might face,” Huston said in committee.
Rep. Blake Johnson, D-Indianapolis, said his amendment focused on fiscal responsibility and economic growth. Speaking to a supermajority Republican chamber, Johnson joked his amendment “sticks it to those liberals in Illinois with their legal cannabis, higher wages and higher ranking in quality of life, place, water, healthcare, education and Chicago-style hotdogs.”
Johnson proposed an amendment that would require the commission to study the financial feasibility of only accepting Illinois counties that contribute more to the Illinois tax base than receiving from it.
“Surely we’re not looking to turn Indiana into a charity state extending our benevolent hand to the places that have been economically dependent on the largesse of Springfield for decades,” Johnson said.
Johnson filed an amendment that would direct the commission to study how to raise Indiana’s minimum wage to the level of Illinois’ minimum wage, but he didn’t call it for a vote.
Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, proposed an amendment that would direct the commission to discuss and recommend whether Indiana should adopt Illinois policies on legalized marijuana.
Harris joked he proposed the amendment for House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, who often says the state doesn’t have enough funds for projects. With his amendment, Harris said Indiana would have a new revenue source that could be used for infrastructure, healthcare, public safety and other issues.
The commission would look at all aspects, from laws and policies to economic impacts, of redrawing the border, Huston said.
Huston drafted the bill after he learned that nearly three dozen Illinois counties have voted in recent years to leave the state, he said.
In November, seven Illinois counties — Iroquois, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Madison and Perry counties — voted to secede from the state. Iroquois County is along the Indiana border, the remaining six counties are closer to Missouri.
To change a state line, the U.S. Constitution dictates that the Indiana legislature, the Illinois legislature and then Congress would have to approve the measure, said Indiana University Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs professor Paul Helmke.
“It’s sort of a useless measure. Nothing exactly like this has happened in U.S. history before, and I think it’s unlikely to happen here,” Helmke said. “It’s an interesting idea, but it’s not going to go anywhere.”
House Bill 1008 begins the conversation of moving the state line, Huston said. Illinois State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, has filed a companion bill in Illinois, and said his bill “does similar things and is comparable to the Indiana bill.”
Illinois House Bill 1500 hasn’t been assigned to committee yet, Halbrook said. But, with Indiana taking action, Halbrook said he hopes his bill will move forward.
“I’m pleased to see Indiana continuing its efforts to support the liberation of Illinois counties that feel they are being unjustly governed,” Halbrook said Thursday. “This is an important conversation, and Illinois should consider following Indiana’s lead.”
Gov. JB Pritzker brushed off the proposal – and fired back at the neighboring state – when he was asked about it at an unrelated news conference last month.
“It’s a stunt. It’s not going to happen,” Pritzker said. “But I’ll just say that Indiana is a low-wage state that doesn’t protect workers, a state that does not provide health care for people in need, and so I don’t think it’s very attractive for anybody in Illinois.”
G.H. Merritt, chairwoman of New Illinois, was one of six people to testify before the committee in favor of the bill. Two organizations in Illinois are working toward seceding from Illinois and creating a new state, Merritt said.
“Our biggest grievance is that we are not represented. We don’t have government of the people, by the people and for the people. Our governor accuses us of wanting to kick Chicago out of Illinois. Not so, we want to kick ourselves out of Illinois,” Merritt said. “Our goal is the constitutional formation of a new state separate from Illinois.”
The bill now moves forward to the Indiana Senate.
