A group of Illinois Republicans are backing a bill that would separate Chicago from the rest of the state, arguing that “large population centers” control state politics, Fox News reports.
Illinois state Rep. Brad Halbrook, a Republican, told “Fox & Friends” on Monday that he’s pushing a bill calling on Congress to declare Chicago the 51st state.
“The goal is to form a new Illinois,” he said, arguing that “the rural portions are not being equally represented.”
He told the State Journal-Register in April, “Our traditional family values seem to be under attack at every angle. We are trying to drive the discussion to get people at the table to say these are not our values down here.”
Halbrook’s resolution has eight Republican co-sponsors in the Illinois state House and some support among conservative activists, but remains a longshot, according to Fox News.
The bill claims that "the majority of residents in downstate Illinois disagree with City of Chicago residents on key issues such as gun ownership, abortion, immigration and other policy issues."
Illinois state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, a Republican and one of the bill’s sponsors, said that the bill is more of an expression of “frustration” with the state’s policies, rather “than the belief that Chicago and Illinois would be better off as separate states. I don’t believe that Chicago and the state of Illinois should be separated. Our relationship is mutually beneficial.”
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