Oregon border move still popular with some

WEISER – The group spearheading the movement to expand Idaho’s border to include eastern Oregon recently called out for help from President Donald Trump.

 Mike McCarter, a La Pine retiree who is the president of Move Oregon’s Border/Greater Idaho, said last week his organization sent a letter to the president asking to meet to discuss the issue. The letter was sent in December. So far, said McCarter, the president has not responded.

 In the letter, the organization noted President Trump’s “unique ability as a practical problem-solver” will help solve the border issue. 

 According to the letter, the president’s support “can bring a peaceful resolution to Oregon’s longstanding east-west divide.”

 “Maybe it is not within their realm of their responsibility, but we want them to know what is going on,” said McCarter.

 The December letter is one of the more recent developments in a long-running saga regarding moving Idaho’s border to include eastern Oregon counties. 

 Meanwhile, Oregon Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane, said he is crafting a bill for the next legislative session regarding the idea. The Oregon Legislature convenes Jan. 21. 

 The bill, said Owens, is designed to get to the “nuts and bolts” of a border move.

 “It would look at a study on what does it actually take. For example, the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, would Idaho buy that from Oregon? What do we do with water rights? So, how do we eventually potentially start these conversations?” said Owens.

 Owens said his constituents made it clear they support border discussions.

 “So, what is the next step?  We need more information, but I’m committed to try to figure out how to do it,” said Owens.

 Owens is not the sole politician advocating for some movement on the proposed border plan. Oregon state Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, recently presented an initiative for the 2025 Legislature affirming lawmakers “stand ready to begin discussions regarding the potential to relocate the Oregon/Idaho border, and we invite the Idaho Legislature, the Governor of Idaho and the Governor of Oregon to begin talks on this topic with this Legislative Assembly.”

 Bonham presented his initiative as a memorial, or request, which does not carry the force of law. Legislative memorials do not require action by the governor. 

 The border move concept is popular in some eastern Oregon counties. Since 2020, 13 Oregon counties voted to approve discussions on the idea and endorsed initiatives to compel county leaders to meet regularly to discuss the issue. 

 The border move blueprint is fueled by a deep dissatisfaction among many in eastern Oregon counties regarding contrasting politics and culture with the western part of the state. Supporters of moving the border assert eastern Oregon’s conservative politics are more in line with Idaho. 

 “We want the lifestyle people in Idaho have and want to be governed the way we see Idaho’s government govern,” said McCarter. 

 McCarter said the November defeat of a Malheur County initiative is an example of how eastern Oregonians feel about the border switch. The Malheur County ordinance asked voters to repeal a requirement for the county court to meet three times a year to discuss the border move. 

 The repeal ordinance was defeated by more than 1,200 votes.

 Ontario resident Blu Fortner, who was one of the chief petitioners of the repeal measure, said he was disappointed by the defeat. Fortner said as a “political refugee” from Idaho, if voters are attracted to Idaho politics and culture, they should move to the Gem state.

 Yet, he said, the election showed the border move idea is still viable with many voters. 

 “That’s the nice thing about Democracy, people voted and said what they want,” he said.

 McCarter said his organization is shifting its focus from the county level to the Oregon Legislature.

 “We are just trying to get the door open in Oregon,” he said.

 McCarter admitted moving the Idaho border to gobble up counties in Oregon is a formidable obstacle as questions regarding Oregon’s public employee retirement system, taxes, water rights and the future of state-owned land remain unanswered. Such a move would also require approval from the Idaho and Oregon Legislatures and Congress. 

 McCarter said down-in-the-weeds infrastructure questions regarding regulations and policies if such a move occurred are not for his organization to answer.

 “We’re not the two parties that have to sit down and negotiate this. It is the Oregon and Idaho Legislatures that comes up with those decisions,” he said.

 McCarter’s view of the future of the border move is somewhat in line with Owens’ proposed bill. McCarter said he favors the creation of a task force consisting of Oregon and Idaho lawmakers and officials who will meet and discuss the border move.

 The meetings, he said, could “really lay out the benefits and the disadvantages to Oregon of letting Eastern Oregon go.”

 Idaho state Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, said she supports the effort to move Idaho’s border but with provisos. 

 Boyle said she would not be in favor of “accepting any liabilities, tax liabilities or whatever.”

 Boyle said, though, that “anything is doable.”

 “If the circumstances are right,” she said.

 In 2023, the Idaho House of Representatives passed a memorial stating the “Idaho Legislature stands ready to begin discussion with the Oregon Legislature regarding the potential to relocate the Oregon/Idaho state boundary.”

 Closer to home, Gordon Wilkerson, Washington County commissioner, said the border move concept is complicated. 

 “I see Idaho welcoming it before I see Oregon releasing it,” he said.