Lawmaker to pitch idea to join eastern parts of Oregon, Washington with Idaho

Lawmaker to pitch idea to join eastern parts of Oregon, Washington with Idaho

SALEM, Ore. — Residents in eastern Oregon and Washington have discussed breaking away from their more liberal neighbors to form a new state for years, but a new twist has been added to the conversation: Why form a new state when the rural counties could just join Idaho instead?

An Oregon representative is expected to pitch the idea to state lawmakers during the current legislative session.

Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, said during his freshman year in the Oregon state Legislature in 2001 he tried to introduce the idea of creating a state of Eastern Oregon, but couldn't even get a hearing on it.

"Our citizens are hurting," Smith said to KATU's Chris Liedle. "I think there are folks back home that have a level of frustration both with state government and with the federal government."

However, he also said that although eastern Oregon provides the state with food and fiber, the west side of the state provides a tax base that supports state services.

Ken Parsons, a 72-year-old farmer, said the idea was floated offhand by someone else in a letter to the editor in the La Grande Observer.

"Annex into Idaho?" Parsons said. "I thought, gee, why didn't we think of this before?"

After thinking about it for a couple of months and discussing it with friends, Parsons said he has decided to try to get input from residents of neighboring counties, including Umatilla and Morrow County.

"I mean it's a simple idea, providing Idaho wants us."

Parsons makes it clear that the battle is not between the left and the right.

"I don't see this as a Democrat-Republican issue," he said. "I see it as an urban and rural."

Parsons says big city lawmakers passing restrictive environmental and economic laws are hurting farmers, hunters and ranchers.

Smith says to look at where the power lies.

"Keep in mind that 43 of the 60 legislators in this building come from Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas County," he said. "It makes it difficult for a small population of Oregonians to have influence on major policy."

Similar numbers can be found in Washington. He says the majority of political power in both Oregon and Washington resides along the I-5 corridor.

Less than 50%:
[link to katu.com]