Two conservative counties of Eastern Oregon will vote on a ballot measure this November to make a decision on whether to depart one of the liberal states within the country and join their western neighbors in a newly redrawn “Greater Idaho.”
The Greater Idaho movement seeks to make 15 of Oregon’s counties and parts of two others — comprising roughly two-thirds of the Beaver State’s land area — a part of Idaho.
Supporters of the movement say the largely conservative and sparsely populated eastern counties have way more in common with Republican-led Idaho than Oregon, whose politics are dominated by the state’s densely populated cities within the west.
“It makes more sense for Eastern Oregonians to get state-level governance coming from Idaho, where they share their values, share their culture, share their politics than it does to be governed by Western Oregon,” Greater Idaho spokesman Matt McCaw told Fox News.
Up to now, nine of Oregon’s 36 counties have voted in favor of exploring changes to the state border and two others, Morrow and Wheeler, will vote to endorse the thought on Election Day.
In Morrow County, the measure requires the county board of commissioners to satisfy thrice a 12 months “to debate how best to advertise their county’s interests in “any negotiations regarding the relocation of the Oregon-Idaho state border.” In Wheeler County, residents will vote to request Oregon state lawmakers to allocate tax dollars “to work towards moving the Idaho border” to incorporate the county.
Earlier maps had the borders of “Great Idaho” extending so far as to the Pacific Ocean, nonetheless the proposed border was redrawn after lower than 50% of voters in two counties in southwestern Oregon voted in favor of leaving, in accordance with Fox News.
“Our whole core principle is that folks need to have the form of government that they need and that shares their values,” McCaw said. “So we don’t wish to be dragging anybody into something that they don’t want.”
Within the 2020 presidential election former president Donald Trump dominated Eastern Oregon, receiving nearly 80% of the vote in some counties. Nonetheless, President Joe Biden ultimately carried the state with 56.5% of the votes due to liberal cities like Portland and Eugene.
Meanwhile, Idaho voted 63.9% for Trump and just 33.1% for Biden.
If all 17 counties approve the measure, they still face quite a few hurdles to truly secede from Oregon and join Idaho. Each states’ legislatures and the U.S. Congress would must approve the move.
While states have had their borders redrawn previously, including Massachusetts after Maine seceded in 1820, there isn’t any precedent for huge swaths of a state to pack up and join one other existing state.
There are numerous logistical obstacles in redrawing state lines, akin to different minimum wages and laws like Oregon’s legalization of marijuana.
“How do you mix criminal justice systems and jurisdictions? Where does your tax base come from?” Stennett asked. “There’s just rather a lot that isn’t being talked about that will have to be fleshed out for this to even be considered.”
Idaho lawmakers have been more open to the proposal. Earlier this 12 months, Idaho Rep. Barbara Ehardt introduced laws stating that lawmakers would proceed discussions regarding the border with Oregon.
The resolution notes that Oregon has resources that will “be highly useful to Idaho,” akin to timber, minerals and water, Fox reported.
If lawmakers can come together and discuss the matter quickly, McCaw said he was optimistic that the borders could possibly be moved as soon as 2024.
“We’ve proven that folks in Eastern Oregon wish to pursue this concept, and we’re going to maintain attempting to get as a lot of those counties as possible to get on the ballot,” he said. “Nevertheless it’s time for the legislature to select up the ball and begin this discussion.”
Two conservative counties of Eastern Oregon will vote on a ballot measure this November to make a decision on whether to depart one of the liberal states within the country and join their western neighbors in a newly redrawn “Greater Idaho.”
The Greater Idaho movement seeks to make 15 of Oregon’s counties and parts of two others — comprising roughly two-thirds of the Beaver State’s land area — a part of Idaho.
Supporters of the movement say the largely conservative and sparsely populated eastern counties have way more in common with Republican-led Idaho than Oregon, whose politics are dominated by the state’s densely populated cities within the west.
“It makes more sense for Eastern Oregonians to get state-level governance coming from Idaho, where they share their values, share their culture, share their politics than it does to be governed by Western Oregon,” Greater Idaho spokesman Matt McCaw told Fox News.
Up to now, nine of Oregon’s 36 counties have voted in favor of exploring changes to the state border and two others, Morrow and Wheeler, will vote to endorse the thought on Election Day.
In Morrow County, the measure requires the county board of commissioners to satisfy thrice a 12 months “to debate how best to advertise their county’s interests in “any negotiations regarding the relocation of the Oregon-Idaho state border.” In Wheeler County, residents will vote to request Oregon state lawmakers to allocate tax dollars “to work towards moving the Idaho border” to incorporate the county.
Earlier maps had the borders of “Great Idaho” extending so far as to the Pacific Ocean, nonetheless the proposed border was redrawn after lower than 50% of voters in two counties in southwestern Oregon voted in favor of leaving, in accordance with Fox News.
“Our whole core principle is that folks need to have the form of government that they need and that shares their values,” McCaw said. “So we don’t wish to be dragging anybody into something that they don’t want.”
Within the 2020 presidential election former president Donald Trump dominated Eastern Oregon, receiving nearly 80% of the vote in some counties. Nonetheless, President Joe Biden ultimately carried the state with 56.5% of the votes due to liberal cities like Portland and Eugene.
Meanwhile, Idaho voted 63.9% for Trump and just 33.1% for Biden.
If all 17 counties approve the measure, they still face quite a few hurdles to truly secede from Oregon and join Idaho. Each states’ legislatures and the U.S. Congress would must approve the move.
While states have had their borders redrawn previously, including Massachusetts after Maine seceded in 1820, there isn’t any precedent for huge swaths of a state to pack up and join one other existing state.
There are numerous logistical obstacles in redrawing state lines, akin to different minimum wages and laws like Oregon’s legalization of marijuana.
“How do you mix criminal justice systems and jurisdictions? Where does your tax base come from?” Stennett asked. “There’s just rather a lot that isn’t being talked about that will have to be fleshed out for this to even be considered.”
Idaho lawmakers have been more open to the proposal. Earlier this 12 months, Idaho Rep. Barbara Ehardt introduced laws stating that lawmakers would proceed discussions regarding the border with Oregon.
The resolution notes that Oregon has resources that will “be highly useful to Idaho,” akin to timber, minerals and water, Fox reported.
If lawmakers can come together and discuss the matter quickly, McCaw said he was optimistic that the borders could possibly be moved as soon as 2024.
“We’ve proven that folks in Eastern Oregon wish to pursue this concept, and we’re going to maintain attempting to get as a lot of those counties as possible to get on the ballot,” he said. “Nevertheless it’s time for the legislature to select up the ball and begin this discussion.”
