Republicans in the Indiana statehouse have proposed legislation that would redraw the state border with Illinois and annex some southern counties to the Hoosier State. According to Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston,

Legislation is being considered by state lawmakers that would redraw the state boundaries of Indiana to include a handful of counties in Illinois that are considering secession from the state. In the last year 33 counties in Illinois have held referenda in which residents in these counties approved plans to look into the possibility of seceding from Illinois and forming a new state.

To all of our neighbors in the West, we hear your frustrations and invite you to join us in low-cost, low-tax Indiana,” Indiana's House Speaker, Rep. Todd Huston (R) said. "Instead of seceding and creating a 51st state,

A bill filed by Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston would create a commission to "embrace neighboring counties that want to join low-tax, low-cost Indiana."

Indiana's legislature upped a long-standing rivalry with Illinois by introducing a bill to steal disgruntled counties. Why it matters: Indiana Republicans are seizing on the discord between Cook County and the state's rural counties,

Starting in 2020, non-binding referendums to secede from Illinois and create a new state have passed in 33 counties. Now, a high-ranking Republican in Indiana wants those counties to join Indiana instead of making a 51st state.

No. 19 Illinois opened a 28-point halftime lead Tuesday night in a 94-69 blowout of host Indiana to bounce back from a double-digit loss to USC.