QUAD CITIES - A Monmouth man explained Wednesday why he believes Illinois should secede from the United States.
According to the White House website, there are two petitions posted online asking President Obama to allow Illinois to, "withdraw from the United States of America and create its own new government."
Monmouth resident Sean McKee signed a petition like them.
"We're trying to make a statement," McKee said. "Why give the government more money? Why give the people in Washington more money if they're just going to waste it anyways."
McKee says he would have signed the petition regardless of whether President Obama was reelected. He blames both parties for not being fiscally responsible with the taxpayer's money.
"If Romney would have won, we're still heading toward an economic meltdown in this country," McKee said. "Where do we go from here? I don't know. I don't have the answers, but neither does Washington."
Iowa had one petition visible on the White House website. That petition has more than 3,000 signatures as well.
"Can you afford your own army and your own defense?" U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley said in a video conference Wednesday. "Will you be able to have you own FBI and all the other things that go along with it?"
To see which states also have residents petition to secede, click here.
No U.S. Senators, Representatives, or Governors from either party have supported the issue. A petition has to receive more than 25,000 signatures before the White House responds.