Did Rep. Todd Huston Ever Really Believe in Annexing Illinois Counties?

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-37) authored House Bill 1008 earlier this year, which establishes the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission. This commission’s purpose is to study the possibility of Indiana annexing 33 counties that voted to secede from Illinois. The commission was to include six members appointed by Gov. Mike Braun and five members appointed under Illinois law. However, when the commission held its first meeting on Wednesday, October 22, only the Indiana contingent was present because Illinois has declined to participate so far. 

According to G.H. Merritt, the chair of the “New Illinois” campaign, this wouldn't have been a surprise to Rep. Huston. She's quoted as saying that she was told during a phone call with Rep. Huston's office, "Indiana knew this was never going to happen because Gov. Pritzker would never appoint the Illinois commissioners to this group." (Pritzker is quoted as saying the whole thing is a “stunt.”) Even a spokeswoman for Rep. Huston admitted he had always acknowledged "it was not very likely." 

Since the beginning it has been clear that Illinois lawmakers don't want this. Secession advocacy groups in Illinois have never agreed on being absorbed by Indiana, with many wanting to create their own new state. And with the debt that comes with annexing these counties, it's not an appealing option for Hoosiers, either. So instead of serving his constituents, Rep. Huston has focused on creating a commission, costing time and money, to study what has been a nonstarter from the outset. We deserve better from our elected officials.