Former Oregon speaker set to back moving Oregon-Idaho border

[TexasTowelie]

Mark Simmons, a Republican former speaker of the Oregon House, was set to testify this week at the Idaho Legislature in favor of letting Eastern and Southern Oregon counties become part of Idaho.

But a not-so-funny thing happened in the Idaho Capitol. Nine new COVID-19 infections were reported there, and the Idaho Legislature abruptly decided last Friday to shut down for a few weeks.

Simmons, of Elgin in Union County, presided during the 2001-2002 legislative cycle. He was among a string of Republican House speakers. Now we have the longest-serving presiding officers in Oregon history, both Democrats, in Senate President Peter Courtney of Salem and House Speaker Tina Kotek of Portland.

Simmons’ testimony at the Idaho Legislature has been rescheduled for April 12. Mike McCarter, president of the newly formed Citizens for Greater Idaho and head of Move Oregon’s Border, said testimony would show that “moving the Oregon/Idaho border farther from Boise will protect Idahoans from the ill effects of Oregon’s new drug law,” an apparent reference to last fall’s passage of Ballot Measure 110.

Read more: https://www.oregoncapitalinsider.com/news/capitol-chatter-former-oregon-speaker-set-to-back-moving-oregon-idaho-border/article_4c5a574c-8dc2-11eb-a129-93db12c08fee.html

[dameatball]

1. I can see some of this stuff popping up here and there. Wouldn't surprise me if the deeply red folks

in NW North Carolina, SW Virginia and NE Tennessee want the old State of Franklin back. Probably many other areas of the country where politicians will see it as an opportunity.

[quakerboy]

2. Im all for "redistricting" states

Just as long as the new borders bring the respective states approximately even in population.

Like.. Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon could merge into one state, and have two senators representing a population nearly equivalent to western Washington or western Oregon.

And California could split. Into 6+ states. each with roughly equal populations, each with two senators.

Etc.

I think there's an opportunity in their desire to redraw state borders.