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State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said citizens are
frustrated with what’s happening in Springfield.
“They don't see that anything’s going to change for the
positive, and when I speak about that, you know, it's the SAFE-T
Act, it's the Protect Illinois Communities Act, the other social
issues,” Halbrook told The Center Square.
Halbrook said Gov. J.B. Pritzker has added over 60 new taxes in
eight years.
“Billions of dollars have been transferred from citizens, from
businesses into state budgets or into the state treasury,”
Halbrook said.
Halbrook proposed a resolution that goes farther than the ballot
measures and urges Congress to declare 101 of Illinois’ 102
counties the 51st state in the U.S.
The Indiana legislature has advanced bills to consider bringing
Illinois counties into the Hoosier state. Last year, an Iowa
state lawmaker proposed a bill to bring several western Illinois
counties into the Hawkeye state.
Voters in several eastern Oregon counties have approved ballot
measures in recent years that favor a merger into Idaho, but
statewide proposals to change state lines failed to advance.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has referred to the prospect of Illinois
counties leaving as a stunt.
Halbrook said separating from Cook County would be an uphill
battle, because Democrats in the super majority will not let his
resolution move forward.
“We need to have a conversation at a minimum. I think that's
what's important. Why do people want to do this? Why do they not
want to stay here in the state of Illinois? What we're seeing
this spring and summer in real time, even the Chicago Bears are
discussing moving to a neighboring state of Indiana. Why is that
happening?” Halbrook said.
When asked about trying to effect change in Cook County instead
of pushing for separation from Illinois, Halbrook said the
dynamic would change if legislation changes.
“But that's not the priority of the super majority. We're seeing
their priorities, which lead to these higher costs, these many
other things that we've discussed here,” Halbrook said.
Kevin Bessler, J.D. Davidson and Sean Reed
contributed to this story
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