Lawmakers file bill to create 51st state

SPOKANE VALLEY - Four Republican lawmakers have signed onto a new bill designed to encourage splitting Washington into two separate states.

Reps. Bob McCaslin and Rob Chase, both of Spokane Valley, Tom Dent of Moses Lake and Robert Sutherland are co-sponsoring House Bill 1239.

Under the bill, "a separate and independent state is established from the eastern portions of Washington." That state would be named Liberty.

The bill calls for establishing transitional committees to help settle issues related to splitting the state at the Cascade crest. Each committee would comprise four legislators an...