PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County commissioners on Wednesday became the last to officially call for “continued talks” between Oregon and Idaho lawmakers about moving the Oregon border, as proposed by the Greater Idaho Movement and supported by a majority of voters in 13 Oregon counties.
Crook is now the eighth county in Central and Eastern Oregon to send such a letter.
Crook County became the 13th Oregon county to adopt a “Greater Idaho” election law earlier this year when voters passed an advisory measure declaring they wanted to become part of Idaho.
The letter to Senator Lynn Findley and Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson states, in part, “The county has witnessed a small grassroots initiative grow into a growing grassroots movement with support across much of the state.” Later in the letter, the committee expresses its desire to support the will of its constituents by encouraging discussions about border relocation.
“We applaud the commissioners for listening to their constituents and standing up for them by demanding action from state leaders,” said Matt McCaw, executive director of the movement. “This is how the system is supposed to work. The people of Eastern Oregon have done what they can, and that is make their wishes known at the ballot box. Now the people who represent us must pick up the ball and take this discussion to the legislature.”
The Greater Idaho Movement began voting on counties in 2020. It seeks to shift the Oregon-Idaho border westward so that traditionally conservative counties in the east join the state of Idaho, which the movement says is more consistent with eastern Oregon’s values.
The group believes that moving the border would create a win-win situation for Oregon and Idaho because it would better align voters with state leadership and reduce political tensions across the state. State borders can be moved through a process called an interstate compact.
The change would require approval from both states’ legislatures and the U.S. Congress. In 2023, the Idaho House of Representatives passed a memorial resolution calling on the state of Oregon to begin border talks.
