County Board Legislative Committee Votes to Put Separate State Question on 2020 Ballot

Here's the question as proposed by County Board member Heather Mumma: "Shall Effingham County Correspond With the Other Counties Of The State Of Illinois, Outside Of Cook County, Outside The City Of Chicago, And Outside Other Municipalities Of Cook County, And Exclude Any Collar Counties Outside Of Cook County That Wish To Be Excluded, About The Possibility Of Separating From Cook County, The City Of Chicago, And Other Municipalities Of Cook County To Form A New State, And To Seek Admission To The Union As Such, Subject To The Approval Of The People Of The United States?"

The matter will be on the agenda at Monday's full Effingham County Board meeting. The Board's Legislative Committee, though, meets as a Committee of the Whole, so Monday's endorsement seems likely. The decision would make Effingham County the first county in the state to take such action.

Committee members also voted to consider Monday a resolution declaring the Firearm Owners Identification Card, or FOID card, is unconstitutional and should be eliminated. The resolution also demands the rejection of any legislation that would restrict the right to keep and bear arms.

County Board Vice-Chairman David Campbell said he knows of several other counties that want a copy of the FOID Resolution, in hopes of making a "strong and unified statement".

The County Board will meet at 4pm Monday at the Effingham County Office Building.