On May 18th an important vote happened in the Oregon legislature. Apparently, there is a large group of Oregon conservatives who are tired of the liberal politics that go on in that state. Thus, they are now growing to secede from that state and join Idaho. Folks, I have to say that it is picking up steam. Surprise, surprise, but it was just last week that five rural counties decided to break away from the socialistic government in Portland and join a neighboring state. Part of the reason that this is being explored is that they are trying to find a more sympathetic body politic over the one in Portland. Thus, they believe that the government in Boise would be more likely to represent their interests. Although it once seemed to be a long shot, the Oregon secession movement seems to be continuing.
According to the Epoch Times,
“Voters in Lake, Grant, Baker, Sherman, and Malheur counties have now approved several different measures that would require county officials to take steps to consider moving the Idaho border west so that they can incorporate the counties. This grassroots group is called Move Oregon’s Border for a Greater Idaho, and they want to have the rural eastern counties be able to join the Gem State because they believe that they would be better off under Idaho’s conservative political leadership.”
“This election is living proof that rural Oregon no longer wants to be a part of Oregon,” lead petitioner Mike McCarter said during his statement to the local media after the vote on May 18. “If Oregon truly believes in liberal values such as self-determination, then they won’t hold our counties captive against our will. If we are allowed to vote for our candidates of choice, then we should be allowed to vote for our state of choice as well.”
According to GreaterIdaho.org, there is now a total of seven counties that have voted in favor of leaving the state of Oregon and going to Idaho. The secession would leave Oregon that basically only consists of Portland and the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
Secession: The Next Steps
The next step for these aggrieved conservative counties would be to formally break away from Oregon and join Idaho. However, this movement does face some steep opposition. It will require a formal vote from the heavily Democrat Oregon legislature. If that vote is able to clear that hurdle, the two states would have to agree on an interstate compact and that would have to be ratified by the U.S. Congress.
Idaho Republican governor Brad Little said Wednesday that it wasn’t “surprising” that there is a group of Oregon conservatives who are looking to merge part of the state with Idaho because of their desire to flee liberal policies.
“They’re looking at our state with some fondness,” he said. “It is because we have a regulatory atmosphere and our values. This is something that doesn’t surprise me one bit.”
“I also know what they’re interested in,” he said. “They want a little more autonomy, a bit more control, a little bit more freedom and that is something that I totally understand.”
In a few more months there will be two more counties that will conduct votes regarding this issue. Harney County and Douglas County are set to vote on these measures, and Greater Idaho’s McCarter told The Epoch Times that Idaho State Representatives Barbara Ehardt (R) and Judy Boyle (R) are getting ready to introduce a bill about the relocation of the state line between Idaho and Oregon by January of next year.
Could this be the beginning of a nationwide trend? It could end up happening for sure.
What do you think about the plans of the Greater Idaho movement? Your comments would be appreciated!