Colorado splitting?

[Ulmus]

I just read on FOX that Weld, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma and Kit Carson counties of Colorado are considering breaking away from Colorado and becoming their own state (North Colorado).

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/09/colorado-county-proposes-51st-state-north-colorado/?test=latestnews

I've seen this played out before with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  It didn't work for them because of one thing.  Money.  They just don't have the tax base to break free.

So my question to you, Do those counties have the tax base to break free of Colorado?

[Solus]

I just read on FOX that Weld, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma and Kit Carson counties of Colorado are considering breaking away from Colorado and becoming their own state (North Colorado).

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/09/colorado-county-proposes-51st-state-north-colorado/?test=latestnews

I've seen this played out before with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  It didn't work for them because of one thing.  Money.  They just don't have the tax base to break free.

So my question to you, Do those counties have the tax base to break free of Colorado?

That's an interesting question. 

Does Colorado send them more in state money than the state collects from them?

Would seem that if they don't have the tax base to support their expenses, other tax payers have been paying part of their way?

[fatbaldguy]

Without doing a bit more research, including reading the link, I would say yes.  They are very likely energy rich.  

The legal threshold for such a move is so high that I doubt it will be achievable.  It might get the attention of some lawmakers in the state Capitol though.

[TAB]

Ca tried that right before ww2( ww2 killed it)  the state of lincoln.   won't happen now.   so cal need nor cals water.

[tombogan03884]

Off the top of my head I can only think of one case where an area was allowed to break away from an established State .
During the early days of the Civil War the Western section of Va was allowed to break away in favor of the Union .
That effort had been under way for decades though, this was the same area that staged the "Whiskey rebellion" during Washington's term.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Well,.....if Magpul joins the rebellion,.....and re-establishes itself in N. Colorado,....Hmmmm.......

MB rebuilds the hidden bunker in N. Colorado,....

One never knows.....Need to consult with some ol' timers from West "By God" Virginia when they broke from the original Virgina territory....

[Jrlobo]

Although not breaking away from an established state, Nevada separated from the Utah Territory after discovery of silver in the western portion of that territory and calling itself Nevada Territory.  Nevada became a state in 1864. The impetus of separating from Utah Territory apparently was economic independence. Interestingly, however, ideology played a major role in Nevada gaining statehood in 1864 just 8 days before the presidential election, thus insuring reelection of the Republican Party candidate Abraham Lincoln. Politics makes strange bedfellows. So how-now Harry Reid?

[Ichiban]

If Colorado were to cut out the liberal center (Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins) and the trendy jet setter ski resorts (Aspen, Vail, etc) we would be normal again. 

Can you forcibly eject portions of the state?  Make them assume their own identify?  Live off their own income?

Kind of like Illinois divesting Chit-cago?  NY dumping NYC?

[Frosty]

A lot of those counties are agricultural, cattle ranches etc. So........... my guess is it won't happen but if it did fly I'd move to those counties.

[fightingquaker13]

Y'all should watch a very cool series on the History Channel called "How the States Got Their Shapes". Its one of the few left that actually deals with history as opposed to pawn shops, antique dealers, and Larry the Cable Guy. But I digress. It talks about how Tx. was broken up, Nevada's secession from Utah, Idaho's separation from Mt. and the like. Its neat stuff.

As far as the legality of forming a new state, Article Four says the following:

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

So it seems that the Co. Leg and Congress would have to approve. In the case of W.Va. that little nicety was overlooked as Va. had declared itself in rebellion, and Congress was happy to have a new ally. Nowadays? I doubt that permission would be forthcoming. But they could always follow Key West's example and declare themselves independent. Viva the Conch Republic.