Crook County Commissioners Officially Ask the Lawmakers to Look Into Moving the Line Between Oregon and Washington
As part of the Greater Idaho Movement, Crook County commissioners officially asked Oregon lawmakers on Wednesday to look into moving the line between Oregon and Idaho. The movement shared the news on its website.
It’s been almost three months since most people in Crook County agreed with a measure that would make most of Central and Southern Oregon and all of Eastern Oregon part of Idaho. The letter was sent to Sen. Lynn Findley and Rep. Vikki-Breese Iverson on Wednesday.
The letter, signed by all three commissioners, says, “In line with the will of our people, the Crook County Board of Commissioners wants to let you know that our citizens want to keep talking with our Idahoan neighbors about the possibility of moving the border between Oregon and Idaho farther west. This could mean that all or part of Crook County, Oregon becomes a part of the State of Idaho.”
Thirteen counties in eastern and central Oregon, like Crook and Jefferson, have decided to look into moving the state line. They said that Crook County is the eighth county to send a letter like this to its lawmakers.
CEO of the Greater Idaho Movement, Matt McCaw, said in a statement, “We applaud the commissioners for listening to their constituents and speaking up for them by asking state leaders to take action.” “This is how it should work in this case.” People in eastern Oregon have done what they could to make their voices heard: they went to the polls. The people we elect now need to pick up the ball and bring this conversation to the lawmakers.
People who are unhappy with the politicians in Salem and want to live under Idaho’s more conservative government have started the Greater Idaho Movement. Under the suggested map, Bend and Sisters would not be part of the move.
Moving the state line has not been talked about in an official way in the Oregon Legislature. The governments of both Oregon and Idaho must agree to the move, and Congress must also approve it.
Roger Williams, a constitutional law professor at Willamette University, says that moving the state line between Idaho and Oregon cost Idaho between $18 billion and $20 billion. The people behind the drive have said that those numbers aren’t accurate and that the two states will work out the cost. They have also said that it would be good for Oregon’s finances because Eastern and Southern Oregon are getting help from the state.