There's discussion and debate in our two neighboring states about whether some politically conservative counties in Oregon should be allowed to become part of Idaho. It's called the “Greater Idaho Movement,” and it's being discussed in both state legislatures. Here in Washington, there's been talk for years of having some Eastern Washington counties split off and become its own state. 12th District State Senator Brad Hawkins says he understands the sentiment, but adds that such a process here would need a very hard look:
Hawkins says a lot of the services performed in Eastern Washington are paid for by Western Washington which, if we were to be split off, would go away:
Hawkins says he can understand people being interested in the idea, after dealing with what he calls – and this is a quote - “all these Seattle based policies that get forced down our throat.”
Meanwhile, the “Greater Idaho Movement” is a long shot; several Eastern Oregon counties have approved the idea, but those ballot issues are not binding; not only does it need approval from both state legislatures, and in Oregon, chances of approval from the Democratic-controlled legislature is thought to be slim; it would also need federal approval.