Miami-area lawmakers are proposing adding a 51st star to the American flag.

City of South Miami commissioners have approved a resolution that calls for splitting Florida in half. This would result in a new state at the bottom half of Florida splitting along the Interstate 4 corridor consisting of 24 counties.

The 24 counties would include 23,000 square miles, about 40% of Florida's present land mass. It would also house 13.4 million people, about two-thirds of the present population.

Commissioners said the creation of a 51st state "is a necessity for the very survival of the entire southern region," claiming that, "Often South Florida issues do not receive the support of Tallahassee. This is despite the fact that South Florida generates more than 69% of the state's revenue."

Florida voters and Congress would need to approve splitting the state

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