Ballot Initiative Campaign Successful in Douglas County
A citizen campaign to move the Oregon/Idaho border announced today that they believe they’ve
collected enough signatures to put a ballot initiative on a future ballot in Douglas County. The campaign
had missed the deadline for the November 2020 election in that county, although it has met the
deadline in three others.
In August, Douglas County commissioners put a non-binding advisory question on the November 2020
ballot asking, “Should Douglas County commissioners, state representatives and senators work toward
moving the Idaho state border to include Douglas County?”
Mike McCarter, president of Move Oregon’s Border, said his leaders have 116% of the required number
of signatures in hand. When the signatures are submitted to the county clerk, any invalid signatures will
be discounted, but Move Oregon’s Border’s campaigns in three other counties only had 3%, 5%, and 10%
invalid signatures, so 116% of the required number is probably enough.
McCarter said he will wait to submit the signatures in case future events make it more strategic to put the
initiative on a later ballot rather than the May 2021 ballot. His Douglas County initiative would amend a
1997 ordinance that allows the county board to expend county funds to advocate for Oregon legislation
that would affect the county. The initiative would allow advocacy for Idaho legislation, including any Idaho
legislation to move the state border. Mike McCarter said “we are thankful that the board chose to put an
advisory question on the November ballot, when turnout will be large. Since we almost had enough
signatures anyway, we decided to keep collecting until we had enough signatures. We will put this
initiative on the ballot that will give us the most momentum toward moving the state border.”
McCarter said they have little hope that a federal judge will delay the deadline for submitting signatures
for the November 2020 ballot because it won’t be long before ballots are printed for that election, and
because the US Supreme Court recently stayed a delay that had been granted by that judge in a similar
case. Currently, Move Oregon’s Border is collecting signatures in 11 counties to put initiatives on May
2021 ballots, and asking county commissioners to put a non-binding advisory question on the May 2021
ballot.
Regarding the failed Recall Kate Brown campaign, McCarter said “We are disappointed, but don’t let Kate
get the last laugh. Let’s move the border. For 38 years, northwest Oregonians have replaced one liberal
governor with another liberal governor. Their reaction to the execution of ‘Jay’ Danielson shows that state
government will not protect people who are not on their leftist team. Let each county be governed by a
state that respects and cares about the people of that county. Moving a border is not divisive. Oregon
and Idaho are already divided by a state line. The problem is that the location of that line was established
161 years ago and is now outdated. It makes no sense in its current location. The Oregon/Washington
border was updated in 1958. The Oregon/Idaho border was not.”
When asked why his group hasn’t moved to Idaho, McCarter said “We love our communities. We’re tied
into them. It’s just the state government that we hate. Idaho’s law, regulations, and lower tax rates are
suited to rural economies and traditional values, and all the migration to Idaho hasn’t changed that a bit.
Combining all taxes together, the average Idahoan paid $1753 less in taxes per year than the average
Oregonian in 2018. That’s averaging together every adult or child, employed, retired or unemployed, and
that was before Kate hiked taxes even higher. And cost of living is 39% higher in Oregon than in
Idaho. Oregon tax rates will continue to go up due to a lack of willingness to control spending, as
evidenced by the PERS fiasco.”
Mike McCarter,
President, Move Oregon’s Border
To get a petition, one option is to download and print two-sided (turn the page over)
from GreaterIdaho.org Another option is to pick up a petition at the businesses listed here:
www.facebook.com/groups/GreaterIdaho/permalink/568593160471945
Press: for hi-res photos or maps, email admin@greateridaho.org
For earlier press releases, visit www.GreaterIdaho.org
Please read our FAQ here: www.greateridaho.org/the_downloads/2020/main/FAQ.pdf
Read our main document here:
www.greateridaho.org/the_downloads/2019/main/Greater_Idaho_Proposal.pdf
The main Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/GreaterIdaho
For info on asking your county commissioner to put greater Idaho on the May 2021 ballot in your
county, visit:
www.facebook.com/GreaterIdaho/photos/a.112830530234555/157009962483278