State of Liberty
The State of Liberty is a proposed U.S. state to be formed out of Eastern Washington, as submitted in a failed bill proposal in 2019 by Matt Shea and Bob McCaslin Jr. in the Washington House of Representatives.[1] It was proposed by Shea as House Memorials in 2015 and 2017,[2][3][4][5] and was the subject of the Douglas County Republicans' "Lincoln Day dinner" keynote speech in May 2018 at the Wenatchee Convention Center.[6]
Proposal
[edit]Similar proposals to Liberty had been made as early as 1906 when it was suggested to include mergers with parts of Oregon or Idaho.[7] The modern notion of splitting Washington state came about due to the eastern half of Washington being traditionally more Republican and being asserted to be fundamentally different from the Democrat majority west by the proposal's supporters.[8] They had drafted a state constitution and designed a flag for Liberty. Opponents assert that the proposal had no chance of passing either the Washington State Legislature due to the way it is constituted or that it would be approved by the United States Congress.[9]
The bill to create Liberty was often promoted by Shea, proposing a version every year until he was ejected from the Republican caucus in 2019.[10] In early 2021, a bill (House Bill 1239) calling for the creation of a new state called Liberty was proposed by Republicans Rob Chase and Bob McCaslin.[8][11] The bill was also co-sponsored by Republicans Robert Sutherland and Tom Dent.[12] After 2021, support for the State of Liberty gradually dwindled and ceased to be proposed publicly.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Lawmakers submit bill to split Wash. in half, create 51st state of 'Liberty', KOMO-TV, January 25, 2019
- ↑ Jim Camden (December 7, 2016), "Matt Shea, McCaslin propose creating new state called "Liberty" in Eastern Washington", Spokesman-Review, Spokane
- ↑ Katie Herzog (November 9, 2018), "Rep. Matt Shea Wants to Split Washington State in Two", The Stranger
- ↑ "Washington lawmakers file bill to split state in two", The Oregonian, Portland, December 7, 2016
- ↑ "A 51st state, called Liberty, would have political clout and an ag-based economy", Spokesman-Review, Spokane, February 12, 2017
- ↑ Joel Connelly (May 2, 2018), 'Liberty: The 51st State' -- Republicans to hear plan to split Washington, Seattle P-I
- ↑ Service, Wire (22 February 2019). "Split Washington in two? 51st state movement highlights cultural divide". Renton Reporter. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- 1 2 Capron, Maddie (19 January 2021). "A 51st state? Washington officials introduce bill to create state of 'Liberty'". The Olympian. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- 1 2 "Spin Control: New attempt at 51st state has about as much chance as old one". Spokesman. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Bowman, Nick (19 January 2021). "With Matt Shea out, yearly push for Eastern Washington secession gets new co-sponsors". My North West. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Barner, Katherine. "2 eastern Washington Reps. proposing bill to split state in half, creating 51st state 'Liberty'". KHQ Right Now. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
- ↑ Bowman, Nick (2021-01-19). "With Matt Shea out, yearly push for Eastern Washington secession gets new co-sponsors". MyNorthwest.com. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
Further reading
[edit]- Leah Sottile (October 23, 2018), "Something's Brewing in the Deep Red West – Rep. Matt Shea has been trying to create a libertarian utopia in the Pacific Northwest, a 51st state called Liberty. And he keeps getting re-elected.", Rolling Stone
- Kellen Browning (December 2, 2018), Midterm's geographic divide renews interest in unlikely plan to split Washington in two, McClatchy Washington [D.C.] bureau
- Shawn Goggins (November 7, 2018), Washington divided? Support for formation of 51st state appears to be gaining momentum in 2018, Ephrata, Washington: iFiberOne News
External links
[edit]- HB 1509 - 2019-20 Establishing the new state of Liberty, Washington State Legislature
- https://libertystate.org/