State Legislature 2022: Jennifer Merecki - Billings Chamber of Commerce

What is your 'why' behind running for office?

There are several reasons I am running, one of which is the biggest concerns for most people, health care and I know they can make a difference in this community as a health care executive who managed rural access hospitals, large skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, hospice/end of life, rehabilitation, psychiatric wards and dementia units. I have helped thousands of people obtain a better quality of life and I will bring this passion and experience to help tens of thousands more. Additionally, I am a small business owner and have the inside knowledge of what businesses go through. Every day you walk into your business, you face a litany of rules, regulations, and laws determined by local, state, and federal officials. Politics and government have more than an interest in your business. Their decisions, no matter how big or small, affect your bottom line. That’s why it’s important to have an informed individual with a personal connection in the legislature, that can create legislation that positively impacts business and the economy.

What are your three most important policy priorities? What do you hope will be the impact of implementing these policies?

1) Health care and prescription drug pricing. Making health care and prescriptions affordable and available to allow people to continue their activities of daily living, including continued employment, contributions to their community, and family.

2) Public land and streams. Our public lands are an enormous economic driver for our state. I have worked and will continue to work hard for public land and stream access to ensure those sources are there for continued employment, tourism revenue, and local recreation.

3) Job Security. Good and effective job security policies provide hope and security for the working class, increases training opportunities and areas of advancement.

Do you agree that control and authority should generally be returned to local communities? If so, how? If not, why?

I agree that local government has the biggest impact on its citizens. I do feel that local government needs the state government for assistance, resources and to lighten its load. So, to say one is more important than the other, I feel is an unfair statement. As there are different goals that need to be achieved, I think both sets of government entities play a vital role in improving the lives of the constituents.

What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the legislature to address safety issues in our community?

I would like to see mental health and substance abuse programs brought back or enhanced. Bring about programs to include a social worker department within the police department or have them contracted for the event the police are involved in a situation that is better handled by social services personnel than law enforcement. This will allow them to focus on crime management and prevention. I also would like to see special training for police officers on the different behaviors of mental health issues and conflict resolution of such.

What can Montana do to ensure we have access to affordable and reliable energy, while planning for and transitioning to a less carbon-reliant energy future?

We need to stay a course of slow transition so that our current energy sources are used, discouraging downtime and lack of availability. This will aid in the supply and demand price fluctuations and when those less carbon-reliant energy sources are available main stream, have them coincide with current sources during the transition. This way, there will be no spikes in demand or cost.

Do you think more lodging tax revenue should be returned to the areas that generated the revenue? Or is the money better used elsewhere?

I believe that as a whole, Billings should receive more back due to being the largest population base.

Do you support local option tax authority? If so, what provisions would you like to see in the proposal? If not, how would you address rising property taxes without reducing essential services like public safety?

This initiative has failed to obtain enough signatures so will not be on the ballot. I believe that a local option authority, as they have for designated “resort/tourist towns”, can be beneficial in bringing in local revenue without negatively impacting the local residents. Putting that tax towards things like hotels, tourist gift shop items, destination recreational facilities, and establishments that sell luxuries.

What can the legislature do to incentivize building more housing, streamline the process, and/or make it easier to embrace new housing technologies?

Create affordable housing trusts that are established, ongoing, and publicly funded with private investment partnerships for affordable housing developments.
Proposed municipal bonds. More municipal bond votes can stir up greater voter turnout, and more opportunities to pass affordable housing legislation.
Offer incentives, tax breaks.
Cut the red tape and administrative hold up for building projects. Also ensure the contract process is open, fair and transparent.
Engage the big businesses that plan to move into the area to include the development of housing for their employees.
Revitalize our existing neighborhoods.