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Montana needs more Democratic women in the legislature, because Montana women’s opinions matter. if you agree vote for me. Renewable energy solutions reduce fossil fuel dependence. This makes America stronger and our kids safer.   Out-of-pocket costs like high deductibles, surprise bills and high premiums are holding Montanans back. Keeping prices down doesn't mean we have to sacrifice quality of care. We can have access to quality care for reasonable prices with thoughtful policy changes.
#JK4MT #mtpol #mtleg #healthcare  Montana has a history of cutting taxes for the wealthy and creating loopholes for special interests and out-of-state corporations. This failed strategy has left counties without the resources to keep property taxes low. Tax system reforms should include three things:
1) collecting all the taxes owed to us, 2) closing tax loopholes, and 3) redirecting revenue toward the things that put pressure on county coffers, like public education, mental health crisis response, affordable housing and crime prevention. We are not collecting all the taxes owed to us. For example, “pass through” entities create complex webs of ownership to disguise corporate earnings as personal income, which is taxed at a lower rate. Pass through entities should be taxed at the corporate rate. Another example is secret tax settlements: corporate property owners who protest their tax bills are allowed to cut deals with the Department of Revenue without letting auditors and assessors see pertinent information. We should repeal secret tax settlements. Cleaning up Montana’s tax code by eliminating special tax breaks will make our tax code fairer and stop waste, fraud and abuse. We are losing at least $241 million each year through tax loopholes which most Montanans can not access. Most of these loopholes are obscure, archaic and benefit only out-of-state corporations, special interests and the very wealthy: things like the “oil and gas tax holiday”, the “water’s edge election”, and “carry back of corporate net operating losses”. When we increase funding to public schools, it reduces pressure on property taxes. Today 58% of property taxes are used to support schools. In 2010-2011, schools received about 43% of their funding from the state, and 25% from local property taxes. We can increase the state share of school funding to decrease property taxes. The state share of funding for mental health services, crisis response, and crime prevention can similarly reduce property taxes. When the county sheriff is called to a mental health crisis and takes a person into custody, the county pays for it, and the county relies on property taxes.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time living and working in Neihart, its that no matter what the challenge, we can do the right thing. When I needed a ride to the hospital, all I had to do was call a neighbor. When my elderly neighbor found herself without wood for the winter, cutting a few cords for her was the least I could do. It’s the Montana way.
It’s one thing to give a neighbor a ride, or help with firewood, and another to take on a problem that was started some 70 years ago, and will take an act of congress to remedy. All around us, friends and family are suffering from, and dying of cancer. For many we can only guess what caused it, but for people who lived in Montana in the 1950s, it is known that fallout from above-ground nuclear weapons testing done at the Nevada Test Site caused many cancers. Most Montana cancer sufferers and survivors probably don’t even know their cancers were caused by our nation’s nuclear testing. These people deserve compensation for the harms the U.S. government caused to them and their loved ones. Montana is one of the most impacted “downwind” states. Research from the National Cancer Institute has shown that Meagher County is the most exposed county in the United States, and that Montana is home to 15 of the 25 highest exposed counties in the country, including Broadwater, Beaverhead, Jefferson, and many more. Despite this history of exposure, Montana is not currently included in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). RECA was sponsored by Senator Orin Hatch (R. UT) in 1990 to compensate those on the frontlines of our national security; people hurt by the production and testing of nuclear weapons. But that law did not include all the people who were affected, and in fact, did not include Montana at all. This year, the US government is poised to take responsibility and extend compensation to all eligible Montanans. Two bills being considered (S.2790 and H.R. 5338) would amend RECA to add Montana as an eligible "downwind" state. Co-sponsoring these bills would show that our Members of Congress (MoC) are making the government do the right thing by us. So far, Sen. Tester has cosponsored, but Sen. Daines and Rep. Rosendale have not. You can call or write your MoC and simply ask them to co-sponsor the bills, and vote for them. It will help our neighbors to get the compensation and care they deserve, while holding our government accountable. 
"This year, Krotkov said things have still been nationalized, but to a lesser degree. She said she has no idea what the election will hold, but she's focused on running a good campaign and ensuring people feel like she's listening to them."
https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/were-gonna-compete-dems-emphasize-importance-of-legislative-races/article_6257ba42-d94b-5ad4-9cba-7510328b6b29.html
Got that right!
Montanans weren't listened to during the last legislative session. Democracy doesn't work when all the voices aren't heard. Trap shooting with the Sportsmen's Caucus was fun and informative. Public trust resources and private property rights are at the crux of important decisions we need to make in Montana for our future. Is the land in Montana a playground for the rich, or a gift to be protected for the future? I believe that humankind must respect the ecological integrity and sacredness of the natural world.  I will support small businesses by encouraging investment in our communities via green energy initiatives. When small businesses and homeowners have access to energy efficiency programs, the money we save gets spent downtown! The cheapest kilowatt hour is the one you never use.  No matter where in Cascade County we live, we are all Montanans and we all deserve the opportunity to provide a fulfilling life for ourselves and our families. That’s why I’m working to expand access to broadband and provide support for small businesses to reenergize the economy and create good paying jobs and good schools.   I like to focus on solutions that matter to regular Montanans. Here are a few ideas for what I can do in the legislature, to make those opportunities available. Let me know what you think.
Cascade County is the heart of Montana. Great Falls attracts small businesses with its livability: good public schools, quality of life, abundant health care options, and access to public lands. Optimizing our community means being smart economically; prepared for long term, balanced prosperity. We all deserve an opportunity with hard work to make families thrive. We get there by supporting families, kids, and workers with affordable healthcare, affordable housing, tools for small businesses to thrive, and tax fairness. A level playing field is the foundation of economic security and a whole community. Education: -Invest in public access for four year olds to attend pre-kindergarten, which has been shown to provide benefits that last into adulthood. -Expand eligibility to SNAP and TANF assistance in post-secondary education so students don’t have to go hungry while pursuing higher education. -Boost the dual credit program in Great Falls high schools so kids can walk off the high school graduation stage and have college credits and good job offers. Affordable Healthcare: - Create a statewide family and medical leave insurance program so that employers can retain workers and ensure a healthy workforce. Businesses will save money and employees can build and sustain financial security in the face of the unexpected. Supporting Small Businesses - Encourage investment in our community through renewable energy initiatives. -Provide on-bill, low and no-cost financing for energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy installations. -Create workforce housing by supporting non-profit entrepreneurs. - Job training and skill development through apprenticeships and trade schools. Tax Fairness: -Eliminate the capital gains tax credit, which only applies to people who pay federal taxes on estates and trusts - not most Montanans. That would bring $49m in revenue. - Expand the state Earned Income Tax Credit, supplementing the wages of hard-working families, to allow parents to provide for their children and purchase needed goods in their local communities. The legislative session of 2021 set back good governance in Montana by decades. They let big businesses and out of state interests literally write the bills that were signed into law by a Governor who makes no bones about intimidating and controlling the judiciary. They undid years of cooperation between scientists and health experts that have kept patients, care providers and the public healthy. They attacked transgender kids, targeted environmental groups and tribal representation.
It was a demoralizing 80 days. Nevertheless, we persist. With the power of truth and compassion, we can get right back up in the saddle and work for justice and fairness. Are you ready to get back to governing for the common good? Ready for some checks and balances on power? Are you ready to sow some seeds not of division but of good old fashioned American goodness? I am! Join me in re-building a resilient Montana, as I renew my commitment to collaborative problem solving and conflict resolution the 2023 session. This is a make-or-break election cycle and I need your help. The campaign contribution limits are changing, but don’t wait to contribute at least $180 now, and the rest after new rules are in place. Early money is like yeast - it raises the dough. My campaign needs your investment now. Donate online here: htpps://secure.actblue.com/donate/jasmine Or send a check to Jasmine Krotkov 4 MT, PO Box 6811, Great Falls, MT 59406, And be sure to include your occupation and employer for reporting purposes! Thank you.  You're Invited to celebrate your Early Voting:
Andre Floyd Get Out The Vote Concert Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Click here to join: https://zoom.us/j/98336079199?pwd=Z0RlN0tCdWV4UjRvNFBySGltQlY2QT09 Passcode: 894592Or join by phone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 983 3607 9199 Passcode: 894592 International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/acZijDpw1k When Mon Oct 26, 2020 6:30pm – 8:30pm Mountain Time - Denver Where https://zoom.us/j/98336079199?pwd=Z0RlN0tCdWV4UjRvNFBySGltQlY2QT09 (map) Joining info meet.google.com/gyb-mmzv-bdk Or dial: +1 252-427-2116 PIN: 922684464# 1. Why are you running for office and what talents do you bring to the job?
I’m running for office because I want to help. Being an American means having freedoms and it also means being responsible for participating in our democracy however we are capable. It is my civic duty to step forward and say: here’s what I can do. During my career as a Postmaster, I also served as Editor for the National Association of Postmasters, which meant I got to help both Members of Congress and my fellow Postmasters understand the role that the Postal Service plays in keeping our country working together toward a common goal. I learned how it is that a government agency can act like a business, while also respecting the constitutional mandate to treat all citizens equally. I can bring this non-partisan understanding of civics to our citizen legislature. In my first term as Representative I passed a law to give schools options for funding improvements, and I passed a law to help get city and county roads and other job-creating infrastructure built. I’m running for office to build on these successes with more bi-partisan solutions that matter to the people of Great Falls. 2. What issues will be your priorities as an elected official? My priorities for this session are to continue providing constituent services: interfacing between government agencies and constituents is the best part of my job. It is fulfilling, and helps me to understand where we can remove barriers to equity and access to services for our neighbors. I will introduce the Veterans Bill of Rights to help veterans transition back to life in Montana through better access to healthcare, job services, mental health service and housing. I will also introduce a bill to help Montana consumers and small business owners access money-saving energy technologies. Serving on the Judiciary and Law and Justice Interim Committees has given me special knowledge of the challenges and opportunities we have to be smart on crime. I am focusing on a number of policies to advance justice through investment in community-based, proven programs that disrupt high-risk behavior and include relapse prevention. 3. What impact do you see the COVID-19 outbreak having on the state budget and services and how would you deal with that? Montana’s economy is projected by the Bureau of Economic Research to be in a recession “more severe than anything in the postwar period” which will last for years. Even so Montana’s finances going into this time of uncertainty are strong. General Fund expenditures have been less than budgeted and the Legislative Fiscal Division projects that our reserves will get us through the next few years, so we have time to plan for the shortfall expected in 2023. We depend on individual and corporate income tax for nearly half of our state budget, so when the shortfall arrives, our community needs to be ready to rebound . We should take advantage of opportunities to limit paperwork and streamline enrollment for aid, expand eligibility for home and community based services, and protect access to high quality child care as we invest federal COVID funding. A healthy, secure population is the most important driver for a thriving economy. 4. Are you someone who believes in bipartisanship, a staunch defender of your party’s beliefs or does your approach depend on the issue? Describe your approach on getting bills passed. I came to the state legislature from being an activist for non-partisan issues. I advocated for all my postal customers and I worked with the Friends Committee on National Legislation, which is a non-partisan, faith based lobbying group which focuses on peace and human dignity. That experience leads me to find shared values with people even when we don’t agree on everything. I am someone who prefers to focus on solutions rather than on problems. 5. What challenges do you see specifically for the Great Falls area and what can you do, if anything, to help as a state lawmaker? State tax policy has made Cascade county overly dependent on property taxes. I support several bills that would strengthen local governments’ ability to raise revenue and improve the fairness of our tax system. One bill would allow local governments to keep up with inflation when making their budgets, and the other would give a tax credit to families whose property taxes exceed a percentage of their income. This will allow lower and middle income families stay in their homes and invest in their futures. Another local issue is that demand for affordable housing is outstripping the supply. We need to develop tools like flexible financing that allow developers to layer all the various public and private programs together to make projects viable. A state housing tax credit could employ construction workers immediately, while providing the stable housing that will be key to our economic recovery.
Vaccination prevents flu and severe outcomes of flu. It also means preventing symptoms that can mimic COVID-19, saving health care resources needed for COVID-19 care.
Check your voting status here: app.mt.gov/voterinfo/  Building the Movement: America’s Youth Celebrate 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage, is an exhibit honoring the centennial anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment which gave American women the right to vote. The exhibit will launch this August (2020) and will showcase artwork by young Americans depicting this historic milestone. To create this exhibit, the First Lady is asking students in grades 3-12 from across the United States and its territories for submissions depicting individuals, objects, and events representing the women’s suffrage movement. One submitted artwork will be chosen from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, America Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The artwork will appear alongside images of women’s suffrage parades, marches, and gatherings that took place at or around the White House. The deadline for submission is July 6. All applicants will receive a thank you note signed by the First Lady, thanking them for their participation in this special exhibit honoring the women's suffrage movement.   Join us for an interview in the Quaker Changemaker series by the Friends Committee on National Legislation. June 24th, 4:30 pm. Montana time. https://www.fcnl.org/updates/changing-things-from-the-inside-friends-in-public-office-2826  Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 18 at noon for Lunch With a Legislator. Great Falls Legislators and other governmental officials will be there to answer questions, provide information, and discuss current affairs. This month we’ll be focusing on child care solutions for people heading back to work, with a special guest from Family Connections Montana. It will be an opportunity for all of us to learn how to support workers’ families and small businesses who want to safely re-open with help from CAREs Act funds. Feel free to ask questions of your legislators before or during the meeting. Post questions here or at https://www.facebook.com/JasmineKrotkov4MT  Under Phase Two, effective June 1, avoid gatherings in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing. Groups larger than 50 people should be cancelled unless physical distancing can be maintained. It is recommended to continue to social distance in gatherings of any size. Under Phase Two, effective June 1, restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos remains in the same operations status as Phase One, but with an increase to 75% capacity. Gyms, indoor group fitness classes, pool, and hot tubs can operate at 75% capacity and only if they can adhere to strict physical distancing and they exercise frequent sanitation protocols. Concert halls, bowling alleys, and other places of assembly may operate with reduced capacity and if they adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines. All businesses are required to follow the social distancing and sanitation guidelines established in Phase One, and Montanans are strongly encouraged to continue sanitation practices, including hand washing and wearing masks in public places like grocery stores.  |
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