by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz
This one was interesting.
As Indiana House Republicans unveiled their 2025 legislative agenda, one item caught my attention for several reasons. No, it wasn’t fiscal responsibility or more transparency regarding health care costs; it was a measure that would create a commission that would “embrace” those counties in Illinois that would want to relocate and become part of Indiana literally.
Now, being from Illinois. This caught my attention.
I grew up in Chicago (longtime south side and suffering White Sox Fan) and attended Northern Illinois University outside the western Chicago suburbs. I worked in radio and government “downstate” (Bloomington and Springfield) and attended law school in St. Louis. My parents lived in the Quad Cities, in the state’s northwest corner. My life is one big, long stretch of I-55, with a bit of I-74, I-80 and I-39 thrown in for good measure. So, I’m familiar with the lay of the land.
And let me save everyone some time and trouble right now; it ain’t gonna happen.
I know, my fellow Illinoisians, trust me, it ain’t gonna happen. First, there are the legal ramifications of all this: both legislatures would have to approve, the federal government would have to approve, and new lines would have to be drawn (Congressional, etc). And that’s just the boundaries; what about other things like real estate laws, worker’s compensation (and don’t forget Indiana is a Right to Work state, Illinois, not so much), gun laws (Indiana is permitless carry) and that matter when do laws go into effect? It’s usually July 1; in Illinois, it’s January 1.
And what about licensure requirements? Lawyers, law enforcement, doctors, and accountants are regulated at the state level. So, whose rules will apply?
Do you see where this is going? Exactly nowhere.
Now I get that every so often, there is a big dust-up in Illinois; part of the state, the part that lives south of I-80, complains that Chicago gets everything, and they want to break it off from the rest of the state. What they tend to forget, which I have to remind them, is that 2/3rds of the state’s population lives north of I-80, and 43 percent of the state tax revenue comes from the Chicago area. And Chicago gets less than a dollar for every dime it sends to Springfield. I remind them that Illinois without Chicago is called Wyoming.
And no offense, Indiana. While life is good here, Indiana still has some significant issues to work out: property tax assessments, health care costs and hospital shortages, education-related matters, etc. Indiana is in a much better place to handle its challenges than it was 20-something-odd years ago, but no place is perfect.
As I said, I can appreciate novel legislative ideas. I can also appreciate legislation introduced to start a conversation or to send a message. I’m not sure what message this sends. If people want to come to Indiana, they can do what I did in 2004: move here. There is no need to change state boundaries, governments, and all that other stuff; hire some movers and come on over to the Hoosier state.
You’ll find it to be a very nice place. And you can still drive back to Illinois within a couple of hours. What’s not to like? And if Lincoln can appreciate both worlds, we all can, too.
Abdul is the editor and publisher of Indy Politics.org
