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In Oregon, we need to build a coalition of state legislators on BOTH sides of the future border to make a greater Idaho a reality. We need their votes, including state leadership’s votes. We hope that Democrats in western Oregon will be willing to say goodbye to “low-income, Trump-voting counties.” You can read this op-ed for reasons why. I’m a low-income Trump voter myself, so don’t be offended.
Due to redistricting, your legislators for this legislative session (January 2023 onward) may be different than before. Your legislators are easy to find: contact info here. If you want to contact the whole state, contact info is here for senators and here for representatives.
The first step is to email and call your state senator or state rep (not US senator or US rep), plus the President of the Senate Rob Wagner and Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, and send them a letter. The legislative assistant might tell you that the legislator can’t come to the phone right now, so just tell the assistant exactly what you would have said to the legislator himself. Make sure your emails and letters explain exactly where you live so that they’ll believe you really vote in their district.
Tell them why you support moving the border, and ask them if they will help the Greater Idaho movement get a hearing, co-sponsor or at least vote yes on a resolution to invite Idaho to begin talks with Oregon leadership. We need senators to co-sponsor, and we need a lead sponsor in the House. Then report back to us. Read the appropriate letter below for suggestions on what to communicate. If they start to notice the same letter copied repeatedly, it might mean less to them than a short original letter from your heart though. You don’t have to use it. If you use it, feel free to add to it and subtract.
You can ask to meet them, and bring others with you. Your state senator and state rep are almost obligated to make time for meeting with you if your schedule is flexible. If they agree to arrange a short meeting with your legislator, then invite us to join you at the meeting. This is a great opportunity to answer their questions and educate them more about the movement. Most of them haven’t given it much thought at all.
If you are willing to knock on legislators’ office doors and introduce yourself to legislators from many districts, you can visit the Capitol building.
If you live in southwestern Oregon, feel free to add this comment to your letter:
If negotiations start, I strongly believe that you should advocate for southwestern Oregon to be included into Idaho. But even if it isn’t included, I think getting the process rolling for eastern Oregon will give southwestern Oregon a chance to be included later.
Sample Letter to a Western Oregon Democrat state legislator (including Bend and the Gorge… and Sen. Wagner & Sen. Lieber):
Dear Democratic caucus member,
As of November 8, the Greater Idaho movement has won elections in five consecutive election cycles in eastern Oregon. 11 of the 15 counties that could vote on this there have already voted in favor.
The Greater Idaho movement would like to build a coalition of Democrats and Republicans who support self-determination for eastern Oregon. They are seeking cosponsors for SJM 2, a bill that would invite the Idaho Legislature and governor to begin talks with Oregon on the possibility of moving the Oregon/Idaho border.
Will you help this movement get an informational hearing or a hearing on their bill to explore the sources and the solutions to the discontent in eastern Oregon? Every gubernatorial candidate, and Senate President Wagner’s press release, emphasized the importance of listening to each part of the state. This is your chance to fulfill these promises.
The Greater Idaho movement is offering a win-win solution. It is good for western Oregon because:
1) It would eliminate a massive drain on the Oregon state budget – $690 per northwestern Oregon wage earner annually, according to an economic analysis funded by the Claremont Institute.
2) It would reduce gridlock in the Legislature: Democrats would have the supermajority necessary to pass taxation bills. Republicans in the Oregon Legislature would no longer have the numbers to deny quorum by walking out or slow the legislature by forcing bills to be read in full.
3) It would allow western Oregon to get what it wants without interference from eastern Republicans. Eastern Oregon would no longer vote on statewide referendums or statewide candidates.
SurveyUSA did a poll of 1068 voters of northwestern Oregon in January and found that only 3% think that having eastern & southern Oregon in their state is worth the cost. The poll showed that 68% of northwestern Oregon voters thought that the Oregon Legislature should hold hearings on the idea, and only 20% were opposed.
I am a voter in your district. My name and address is:
Sample Letter to a Western Oregon Republican state legislator (including Bend and the Gorge):
As of November 8, the Greater Idaho movement has won elections in five consecutive election cycles in eastern Oregon. 11 of the 15 counties that could vote on this there have already voted in favor.
The movement would like to build a coalition of Democrats and Republicans who support self-determination for eastern Oregon. They are seeking cosponsors for SJM 2, a bill that would invite the Idaho Legislature and governor to begin talks with Oregon on the moving the Oregon/Idaho border.
Will you help this memorial get a hearing in committee to explore the sources and the solutions to the discontent in eastern Oregon? Every gubernatorial candidate, and Senate President Wagner’s press release, emphasized the importance of listening to each part of the state. This is their chance to fulfill these promises.
The Greater Idaho movement is offering a win-win solution. It is good for western Oregon because:
1. It would eliminate a massive drain on the Oregon state budget – an economic analysis funded by the Claremont Institute found that it’s $690 per northwestern Oregon wage earner annually.
2. Conservatives of western Oregon get the opportunity to move to a red state and still live within driving distance of their family in western Oregon.
3. If the Legislature shows interest in moving the Oregon/Idaho border, southwestern Oregon might decide to request to be included as well.
As a Republican, we hope you will welcome the extension of conservative governance over eastern Oregonians issues. This would be a big win for conservative values. Eastern Oregonians are only 9% of Oregon’s population (because we don’t include Bend), so the effect on Oregon elections would not be huge. The loss of 3 Senate districts in eastern Oregon would force the addition of 3 districts in western Oregon, some of which might be won by Republicans.
SurveyUSA did a poll of 1068 voters of northwestern Oregon in January and found that only 3% think that having eastern & southern Oregon in their state is worth the cost. The poll showed that 68% of northwestern Oregon voters thought that the Oregon Legislature should hold hearings on the idea, and only 20% were opposed.
Legislators on both sides of the state who came out publicly in favor of our movement all won re-election in November.
I am a voter in your district. My name and address is
Sample Letter to an Eastern Oregon state legislator (not including Bend or the Gorge):
As of November 8, the Greater Idaho movement has won elections in five consecutive election cycles in eastern Oregon. 11 of the 15 counties that could vote on this there have already voted in favor.
The movement needs to build a coalition of Democrats and Republicans who support self-determination for eastern Oregon. They are seeking senate cosponsors for SJM 2, a bill that would invite the Idaho Legislature and governor to begin talks with Oregon on the moving the Oregon/Idaho border.
They also need a lead sponsor in the House. Will you help?
Will you help this memorial get a hearing in committee to explore the sources and the solutions to the discontent in eastern Oregon? Every gubernatorial candidate, and Senate President Wagner’s press release, emphasized the importance of listening to each part of the state. This is their chance to fulfill these promises.
Legislators on both sides of the state who came out publicly in favor of our movement all won re-election in November.
I am a voter in your district. My name and address is:
