Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE -- In the 1970s, there was an attempt by local representatives to make the U.P. a state, but there wasn't enough legislative votes.

Now many residents may want to see the Upper Peninsula stand on its own.  What does it take for that to happen?

Jim Carter, the writer of Superior, a State for The North Country, says people want the U.P. separate from Michigan because they're tired of the state politics.

"They were sending quite a lot of tax dollars down to Lansing and they felt they weren't getting a fair share back. That's exactly, I think, what the problem is now," said Carter.

He's wary the U.P. doesn't have enough money to sustain itself.

"If we become a separate state without a good income revenue base, our taxes would have to go up more than we're paying now in order to support statehood," Carter said.

To become a state, the U.P. needs the legislature to agree to the separation, residents' consent, a separate state constitution, and a key majority vote among Congress is needed.

Some people feel it won't happen. Lisa Sutinen writes:  "We don't have enough industries here to support ourselves."

However, others think the U.P. can.

John Rohrer says:  "We're pretty much the last bastion of industry in the state, with the mines, logging, and tourism. All the money from the snowmobile passes, hunting permits, etc., could be going to our roads our economy. Not downstate to try clean up Detroit and Flint."

Mike Quayle, Marquette County Commissioner, says studies from the1970s show the U.P. can financially become the 51st state.

"For every $96 sent to the U.P. from the state, we sent 106 back so is it financially possible, based even on his statistics back then," said Quayle.

He adds the likelihood of it actually happening is slim.