Now, an Indiana bill is looking to capitalize on all of that discontent. An Indiana lawmaker has rolled out the welcome mat for people in Illinois who want to join the Hoosier Sta

An Indiana House committee has advanced a bill that would adopt several Illinois counties that indicated they wanted to secede from the state. House Bill 1008 passed the Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform on Monday.

"The colonial battlecry, 'no taxation without representation,' is our reality," said G. H. Merritt, chair of the nonprofit New Illinois, a group whose primary goal is forming an entirely new state. "We thank the leadership of Indiana for recognizing our pain.

A measure aimed at allowing Indiana to absorb 33 counties in Illinois that have voted in recent years to leave the state has cleared its first legislative hurdle, but the effort faces a major uphill battle.

Indiana lawmakers have advanced legislation that would have the state swallow up some Illinois counties. It would take action by legislatures in both states to make this happen as well as the United States Congress.

Dozens of Illinois counties have voiced their desire to separate from Chicago. An Indiana house bill would explore how to make that happen.