Oregon & Idaho legislators meet on the Greater Idaho movement

(Left to Right) Oregon state rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson meets with leaders of the Greater Idaho movement, Idaho state reps. Judy Boyle & Barbara Ehardt, and Malheur County Commissioner Ron Jacobs in Baker City, Oct 19, 2023.

Baker City – To discuss potential next steps for the Greater Idaho movement, a member of the Oregon House of Representatives, Vikki Breese-Iverson met today with her Idaho counterparts, Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Washington County) and Rep. Barbara Ehardt (R-Idaho Falls) in Baker City, Oregon.

Malheur county commissioner Ron Jacobs was in attendance, along with leaders of the Greater Idaho movement. Rep. Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) recently chose to step down from being the leader of the Republican caucus of the Oregon House.

“The Idaho House has already stated that we are ready to have discussions with the Oregon Legislature on how to advance Freedom for eastern Oregonians,” Rep. Judy Boyle said. Indeed, in February, the Idaho House of Representatives passed a resolution stating as much. The meeting in Baker City today is the first meeting pursuant to that invitation.

Mike McCarter, the leader of the movement, said “we thank Rep. Breese-Iverson for participating in the conversation!”

“Over the last three years, the Greater Idaho movement has won in twelve of the twelve eastern Oregon counties that have voted on this issue. As a state representative, I have a duty and responsibility to have conversations that could potentially better my constituents,” said Rep. Iverson. “It is clear: people in central and eastern Oregon do not align with all the values of those in Portland and Eugene. Is Greater Idaho the answer? I am not sure but I am willing to turn over all the rocks possible, for the land and people I love.”

The ultimate goal of the Greater Idaho movement is to relocate the Oregon/Idaho state line to allow conservative, rural eastern Oregon to become a part of Idaho. Currently, the movement is asking state legislatures to have formal discussions that could later lead to an actual timeline and bill to send to Congress for ratification.

The Greater Idaho movement believes that western Oregon leaders should want to let eastern Oregon join Idaho because it would benefit Oregon’s state budget, and because eastern Oregon’s state senators came close to blocking votes in the Oregon Senate permanently, as greateridaho.org, their website, explains.  The leader of the movement, Mike McCarter, wrote that moving the state line would be good for the income taxes of both states: “Portland metro incomes are so high that any middle-income county that departs the Oregon state budget increases the average income of both Oregon and Idaho.”

(left to right) Idaho state rep. Barbara Ehardt, Oregon state rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson, and Greater Idaho movement spokesman Matt McCaw speak at a press conference in Baker City, Oct 19, 2023.

VIDEO OF THE WHOLE PRESS CONFERENCE IS ON YOUTUBE HERE.

Uncopyrighted photos regarding the movement are here: https://www.greateridaho.org/uncopyrighted-photos-for-use-by-media/ 

Read the backgrounder for the Greater Idaho movement: www.greateridaho.org/backgrounder-intro-to-greater-idaho