Anna, a Nebraska native, covers crime and public safety. She’s been with The ÅÝֱܽ²¥ since 2022. She seeks to incorporate nuance and diverse perspectives to broaden readers’ understandings of the criminal justice system, public safety and homelessness. Readers can contact Anna with news tips via phone or email.
Crook County voters will be asked this May how they feel about becoming part of Idaho, but even if everyone said yes, it isn’t likely to happen.
The ballot measure, which was filed with the county clerk’s office Wednesday, reads: “Should Crook County represent that its citizens support efforts to move the Idaho state border to include Crook County?â€
Counties have no authority to move their boundaries or join another state. But ballot measures, like the one slated for Crook County ballots, can pose a question that answers what direction leaders ought to take.
Crook will be to vote on the Oregon-Idaho question. Voters in 12 counties, mostly in the eastern half of the state, have been
supportive of measures while a majority of voters in two
Southern Oregon counties — Douglas and Josephine — rejected support of the Greater Idaho movement.
The process for rural Oregon counties to join Idaho would require approval from both states’ legislatures and Congress.
In 2023, Idaho lawmakers approved a resolution to open up discussions with Oregon lawmakers on moving borders, but a similar bill in Oregon didn’t move forward.
The was born in La Pine in 2019, and quickly snatched attention across the country, especially as political divisions sown during the 2020 election and the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated.
Mike McCarter, a 76-year-old La Pine resident and Air Force veteran, has seen the movement through as president since the beginning.
“The county vote doesn’t really do anything legislatively,†McCarter said. “But it does bring out a voice that there is a problem.â€
A measure like this has been talked about for years in Crook County, but other attempts at putting a question on the ballot have failed, said Cheryl Seely, the Crook County clerk.
“I know county government had been pressed on this for a long time,†Seely said.
The question before voters in May was brought forth by the County Court, the county’s governing body, which is the only way an advisory question can be brought forward.
Supporters of the movement don’t want to move to Idaho or create a new state. They simply want a governance shift, McCarter said.
“We are tied to our land,†he said.
McCarter imagines one day the Oregon-Idaho question could reach the level of a state referendum. In the meantime, he hopes the Legislature addresses the question with a task force. Although, McCarter isn’t jaded by hopes for immediate change.
“I don’t think there’s a perfect world,†McCarter said, “just like I don’t think there’s perfect states.â€
Anna, a Nebraska native, covers crime and public safety. She’s been with The ÅÝֱܽ²¥ since 2022. She seeks to incorporate nuance and diverse perspectives to broaden readers’ understandings of the criminal justice system, public safety and homelessness. Readers can contact Anna with news tips via phone or email.
At least, at first, until they decide to build a wall, there would be enough open border between Deschutes and Crook County to permit books to be smuggled in and women in need of health care to be spirited out.
Now that our resource rich southern counties have rejected this circus, I can love and support it. But I'm wondering - east Oregon rubistan understands they produce less than sustenance level income, ya? Why would ID want these net loss counties? Sure, most of the delta is being plugged by federal transfer payments, and that would continue on. But even immediately forcing those counties into IDs regressive tax system would leave a shortfall that has to be financed. It's a deal-killer issue that has to be solved by the advocates.
Rep. Becky Breese-Iverson, Prineville, attended an official Idaho border movement meeting.
Breese-Iverson, along with Werner Reschke, La Pine, and Findley, have co-sponsored SB 1589 in our current legislative session which makes in-person voting on the date of the election the standard for Oregon voting, thus eliminating mail in voting (with a few exceptions such as military).
Although the bill has no chance of passing it reflects our Republican local legislators’ values and political efforts.
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At least, at first, until they decide to build a wall, there would be enough open border between Deschutes and Crook County to permit books to be smuggled in and women in need of health care to be spirited out.
Now that our resource rich southern counties have rejected this circus, I can love and support it. But I'm wondering - east Oregon rubistan understands they produce less than sustenance level income, ya? Why would ID want these net loss counties? Sure, most of the delta is being plugged by federal transfer payments, and that would continue on. But even immediately forcing those counties into IDs regressive tax system would leave a shortfall that has to be financed. It's a deal-killer issue that has to be solved by the advocates.
More welfare counties aliening with a welfare state.
Rep. Becky Breese-Iverson, Prineville, attended an official Idaho border movement meeting.
Breese-Iverson, along with Werner Reschke, La Pine, and Findley, have co-sponsored SB 1589 in our current legislative session which makes in-person voting on the date of the election the standard for Oregon voting, thus eliminating mail in voting (with a few exceptions such as military).
Although the bill has no chance of passing it reflects our Republican local legislators’ values and political efforts.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.