The Iroquois County Board could consider a request to place a non-binding referendum on the November ballot.
The board heard from representatives of Illinois Separation at its July 9 meeting.
Julie Caise and Loret Newlin spoke to the board about the group and its mission.
Caise said she grew up in Iroquois County on a farm. “I’m concerned about what the future of Illinois is looking like with the laws that are passed by representatives mostly from the Chicago area.” She said she had always hoped to pass down her land to her godson.
“The things I’m most concerned about, the laws they are passing have to do with the Safe-T Act, which is not prosecuting criminals and taking it out on legal citizens,” she said, noting that another issue she is concerned about is unions and tax dollars from our area going to pay pensions elsewhere.
Newlin read the referendum, which asks if the Iroquois County Board “correspond with the board of other counties of Illinois outside of Cook County about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state, and to seek admission to the Union as such, subject to the approval of the people?”
She continued, noting that the referendum will give the people a voice in what they want — “whether for or against”.
“Many of us no longer consent to being government by the Cook County-dominated legislature which seems unaware of how differently threat of the stat lives, our values and morals, or how laws for the city of Chicago are often inappropriate and oppressive to the rest of the state.”
She said the non-binding referendum “does not make the split happen” but it does assess what the people want and gives local, state and federal officials information about that assessment.
“The referendum gives county board and commissioners a ‘seat at the table’ to discuss the possibility of separating,” she said. “We are aware that debt and pension obligations will need to be divided fairly and there are universities and prisons to consider.
“We are aware Cook County contributes a sizable amount to the Illinois coffers; however, Cook also has significant expenses, such as debt and pension load. There are areas we would save money by separating. With different laws, we would attract businesses.”
Newlin said after the referendum vote, discussions on finances could happen. “Until voting, we cannot begin to know which counties are in favor of expiring statehood or what owe have to work with,” she said.
“Because of the Cook County-dominated legislature, we see no way to have our grievances resolved other than through forming a new state. Our goal is to realign the new state with the U.S. Constitution and return more power to the county level.”
Newlin said that some boards have been reluctant to move forward with the referendum because of fear of retaliation and retribution from the state by withholding funds to the county. She said, “The board members have Illinois Constitution, the State Board of Elections referendum guru said, and what the U.S. Constitution says. And while this is non-binding we would hope the county board members would be responsive to their citizens if we get enough counties that are in favor of looking at this.”
The county board has until Aug. 19 to place the question on the November ballot.
The board could not take action at the July 9 meeting because it was not on the agenda. The board agreed that it would go back to committee and possibly be considered at the Aug. 13 county board meeting if it is to be on the ballot in November.
