Florida Senate Candidate Q&A

Taxation Task Force 2024 House & Senate Candidate Questionnaire

Florida Senate Candidate Q&A

The Florida Democratic Primary is on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Overseas ballots must be postmarked or dated by Election Day and received within 10 days of the election in order to be counted, provided the ballot is otherwise proper. Emailed ballots have already gone out. If you've not received your ballot yet, you should postal mail a backup ballot (FWAB) as soon as possible more info here. To find out more about voting in the August 20th primary, go to VoteFromAbroad.org

About the Florida Senate Race

Florida is the number 1 state of military and civilian U.S. citizens voting from abroad! With 191,628 registered Florida voters from abroad in 2020, our votes could be the margin of victory in November, so every vote from abroad matters!

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

1. How do you think access to voting from abroad can be improved?

Right now, 31 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands allow voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to return an absentee ballot by fax. There should be federal legislation that allows all American citizens abroad to return an absentee ballot by fax from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Ten states do currently allow UOCAVA voters to cast their ballots by an online portal. If proper cybersecurity measures are instituted, this could also be a good way to improve access to voting from abroad.

2. Several bills have been making their way through the House that are aimed at drawing attention to and/or addressing some of the most critical issues facing US citizens who live outside the country. Would you be willing to introduce Senate companion versions of the following bills? 

Yes

Yes

Yes

3. Will you co-sponsor S.597 - Social Security Fairness Act?

Yes

4. How do you think US citizen services at consulates and embassies could be improved?

The Partnership for Public Service recently released an analysis showing that the State Department workforce shrunk during the Trump administration. This should not have happened, and as Senator I will make sure that the State Department is fully funded so it has the workforce to help Americans abroad asking for assistance on matters such as voting, filing taxes, accessing Social Security benefits, and renewing US passports.

5. What tax, overseas information reporting, and financial access reforms would you support to relieve the undue burden faced by low- and middle-class Americans abroad?

I support expanding Direct File to make it available to Americans abroad in the 2025 tax filing season. I am still learning more about the reporting thresholds for FBAR, and exemptions for small American business owners abroad. Americans should not face double taxation, and I will support common sense legislation to relieve the undue burden faced by low and middle-class Americans abroad.

6. Would you support adjustments to the tax code that align tax residency with physical residency, provided that they are resilient against abuse and are beneficial to the Internal Revenue Service? Such a change is commonly known and used in the rest of the world as “residency-based taxation.”

Our tax code is too complicated for all Americans, especially Americans abroad. I support reforming our tax code to relieve the undue burden of double taxation faced by low and middle-class Americans abroad. Reforms to our tax code should be focused on helping lower costs for low and middle-class Americans, and making sure the wealthy pay their fair share.

7. What more do you believe could be done to keep U.S. citizens abroad in mind when passing legislation in order to avoid unintended consequences for those living outside the United States?

Making it easier for American citizens abroad to vote will make it easier for American citizens abroad to be included in the political process. As Senator, I will always listen to Floridians who live abroad.

Rod Joseph

1. How do you think access to voting from abroad can be improved?

I believe all Americans should have access to vote wherever they live, we have military base all across the globe, we can also use them as polling stations for our citizens living aboard same as the embassy and our consulate.

2. Several bills have been making their way through the House that are aimed at drawing attention to and/or addressing some of the most critical issues facing US citizens who live outside the country. Would you be willing to introduce Senate companion versions of the following bills? 

Yes

Yes

Yes

3. Will you co-sponsor S.597 - Social Security Fairness Act?

Yes

4. How do you think US citizen services at consulates and embassies could be improved?

We must make it mandatory to provide access to our expats living abroad, there should be a special office that in place outside of the embassy or consulate hours and functions that is dedicated specifically for our citizens.

5. What tax, overseas information reporting, and financial access reforms would you support to relieve the undue burden faced by low- and middle-class Americans abroad?

Allow them to received 100% exemptions of their earning, with inflations and cost of living taxing Americans living abroad hurt families.

6. Would you support adjustments to the tax code that align tax residency with physical residency, provided that they are resilient against abuse and are beneficial to the Internal Revenue Service? Such a change is commonly known and used in the rest of the world as “residency-based taxation.”

Perceptions of anyone not the reality you live, I will support anyone's choice to live abroad and to enjoy your life without the fear or threats from the government, besides this country was free because the people were tired of the greedy government.

7. What more do you believe could be done to keep U.S. citizens abroad in mind when passing legislation in order to avoid unintended consequences for those living outside the United States?

You play a major role of not only promoting our values and cultures, but also an ambassador for our country, you must be appreciated and respected.

Brian Rush

1. How do you think access to voting from abroad can be improved?

I strongly believe that every American Citizen has a right to easily cast their vote in any Federal or state election, and the casting of every vote must be accomplished so as to protect the security and integrity of the voting process. Every citizen should be able to register with the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate so the American citizen can deliver his/her ballot to the American Consulate prior to election day, so that the U.S. government can air ship all of these ballots to the respective state jurisdictions for counting, and an additional 5-10 days should be provided for counting these ballots, which is the same extension that is provided to the collection of oversees military ballots. There should be no charge for any U.S. citizen who delivers their ballot to the American Embassy or Consulate. Alternatively, all oversees Americans should be able to FedEx or mail their ballots to the appropriate state jurisdiction, and receive the additional 5-10 days for the counting of their ballot.

2. Several bills have been making their way through the House that are aimed at drawing attention to and/or addressing some of the most critical issues facing US citizens who live outside the country. Would you be willing to introduce Senate companion versions of the following bills? 

Unsure, and would like further information from Democrats Abroad

Unsure, and would like further information from Democrats Abroad

Unsure, and would like further information from Democrats Abroad

3. Will you co-sponsor S.597 - Social Security Fairness Act?

Unsure, and would like further information from Democrats Abroad

4. How do you think US citizen services at consulates and embassies could be improved?

In Florida, a citizen can obtain a vote by mail ballot by calling or emailing their request to the Supervisor of Elections. The Federal government could require each state to implement this easy phone/email request system. The U.S. Embassy should also provide opportunities to communicate directly with Social Security and IRS offices, through scheduled appointments.

5. What tax, overseas information reporting, and financial access reforms would you support to relieve the undue burden faced by low- and middle-class Americans abroad?

The U.S. should treat all Americans equally in regard to tax fairness issues, but should also make it easier for oversees citizens to communicate with the government and pay their fair share of taxes.

6. Would you support adjustments to the tax code that align tax residency with physical residency, provided that they are resilient against abuse and are beneficial to the Internal Revenue Service? Such a change is commonly known and used in the rest of the world as “residency-based taxation.”

All U.S. citizens should be treated equally and fairly, but overseas citizens should receive a credit for any taxes or related expenses while living abroad, including any taxes paid in the country of residency. In other words, an oversees citizen should not have to pay twice or pay more.

7. What more do you believe could be done to keep U.S. citizens abroad in mind when passing legislation in order to avoid unintended consequences for those living outside the United States?

As a United States Senator from Florida and as the former Vice-Chairman of the Florida House Finance and Tax Committee, and as a now retired business attorney with over 35 years experience, I am much more experienced in dealing with these issues then most of my opponents. I will always be reviewing tax policies and foreign policy issues closely to understand all implications, and i will always be available to discuss this issues with interested citizens.