Greater Idaho movement seeks support from President-elect Trump, new administration on border-move talks
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Leaders of the Greater Idaho movement said Wednesday they are asking President Trump and his incoming administration to get involved in supporting border talks between Idaho and Oregon.
In a letter released Wednesday (see below), Citizens for Greater Idaho praised the former and future President as a "practical problem-solver" whose support could bring a "peaceful resolution to Oregon's longstanding east-west divide... and cement (Trump's) legacy as a peacemaker and transformational president."
"It's become clear to the people of eastern Oregon that our own state government is not going to listen to us and enact what we've voted for, which is moving the border," said Matt McCaw, Executive Director of the movement. "But we believe that President Trump, whom the people here overwhelmingly voted for, can help us achieve the self-determination we have a right to by bringing attention and support to our cause."
President of the movement, Mike McCarter, agreed: "For the last four years, we've been going directly to the people to hear what they want. They've made clear they want to start border discussions. We've also reached out to the Oregon Legislature and Governor Kotek but gotten no response. Oregon state government hasn't been willing to listen to eastern Oregonians, but we believe the President will."
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 change would require the approval of both states' legislatures, as well as the US Congress.
In 2023, the Idaho house passed a Memorial resolution inviting the state of Oregon to begin border talks, and the Governor of Idaho has publicly supported border talks as well.
Learn more at www.greateridaho.org.
