A band of Oregonians is moving forward with its efforts to annex part of the state with neighboring Idaho out of frustration with the state's Democratic leadership.
The effort—from the group Move Oregon's Border for a Greater Idaho—that would put the question up to voters, recently passed a constitutional review from Josephine County.
But approval from voters wouldn't automatically redraw Oregon's borders.
I mean, did anyone ASK Idaho?
Instead, the referendum's passage would make it county policy to obey any state effort to annex the counties "if any such effort develops."
Mike McCarter, a chief petitioner of the measure, said:
"Rural counties have become increasingly outraged by laws coming out of the Oregon Legislature that threaten our livelihoods, our industries, our wallet, our gun rights, and our values."
"We tried voting those legislators out but rural Oregon is outnumbered and our voices are now ignored. This is our last resort."
The effort still has a long way to go.
Petitioners must gather over five thousand signatures from two counties by August in order to put the question up for a vote.
People are skeptical of their efforts.
With August a mere six months away, the group has an uphill battle to climb as far as gaining signatures.
Good luck with that.
**