Salem, OR - Eastern Oregon state Senators recently issued a letter to the Senate Rules Committee requesting a public hearing for Senate Joint Memorial 7, which is a memorial inviting the state of Idaho to begin border movement talks with the state of Oregon.  Senators Nash, McLane and Linthicum cited the public support the idea of moving the state border has garnered in their districts as justification for holding the hearing.  Greater Idaho bills have passed in 13 of the counties represented by the 3 senators.  In 2023 the Idaho legislature passed a similar memorial inviting the state of Oregon to begin border discussions.

Greater Idaho Executive Director Matt McCaw praised the Senators' action.  "We are encouraged to see the representatives of Eastern Oregon coming together to advocate for their voters by asking for this hearing.  For 4 years the people of Eastern Oregon have been voting and have made clear they want to explore moving the border and joining Idaho.  Their elected leaders are now doing the same. The Oregon Legislature owes it to the people of Eastern Oregon to respect our votes and hear us out."

Greater Idaho representatives were recently in Salem meeting with Legislators and asking for movement on the two bills that address moving the border. In the House, HB3488 would create a study group comprised of multiple stakeholders from across Oreogn to study the impact of a border change.  That bill is co-sponsored by several Eastern Oregon representatives including Mark Owens of Crane, Vikki Breese-Iversen of Prineville and Bobby Levy of Echo.

"We've asked the people of Eastern Oregon what they want and now we've been to the State Capitol to advocate for what they want," said Mike McCarter, President of the Greater Idaho Movement. "If the Democratic majority won't listen to the people of Eastern Oregon or their elected representatives, what representation does Eastern Oregon citizens really have?"

The Greater Idaho movement began putting votes to counties in 2020 and seeks to move the Oregon/Idaho border westward so that the traditionally conservative eastern counties would join the state of Idaho, which the movement says better matches eastern Oregonian values.  So far, 13 counties have passed their measures. The group believes that moving the border would create a win-win situation for both Oregon and Idaho by better matching voters to state governance and would lower political tension across the state.  State lines can be moved through a process called an interstate compact.  The movement has previously reached out to the Governor of Oregon, as well as President Trump, asking for support in getting border talks between the two states started.