Taxation Task Force 2022 Midterms

Wisconsin 2022 Midterm Senate Race

The Wisconsin Democratic Primary is on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Voter registration closes on July 20th and absentee ballot requests are due August 4, 2022 by 5pm CDT via mail, fax, or e-mail. Your ballot must be received by August 9, 2022 at 8pm CDT. Emailed ballots have already gone out. If you've not signed up for an emailed ballot, you can still sign up for one so you can print and return as quickly as possible to meet the strict deadlines and to avoid delays due to the slow postal service. Be sure to return your ballot as soon as you receive it! To find out more about voting in the August 29th primary, go to VoteFromAbroad.org

About the Wisconsin Senate Race

Wisconsin has the 16th largest number of military and civilian U.S. citizens voting from abroad! With 25,956 registered Wisconsin voters from abroad in 2020, our votes could be the margin of victory in this race, so every vote from abroad matters!

Sarah Godlewski

Once elected, will you:

  • Will you co-sponsor 3071 - Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust? Yes.
  • Medicare portability: Would you support a pilot program allowing Americans currently receiving all or the majority of their Medicare benefits in the US to have the option of receiving these benefits overseas? Yes. Americans should receive their Medicare benefits whether they are at home or living abroad. A pilot program would serve as a practical first step in expanding access to those benefits.
  • Residency-based taxation (RBT): A majority of Americans abroad are working and middle class but are subject to excessively complex filing requirements and tax treatment more punitive than if we lived in the US. We suffer from unfair and outdated stereotypes that we are moving abroad to evade paying US taxes, when research confirms that most Americans move abroad to marry a non-US spouse or for Would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.”
    I would support adjustments to the tax code that align tax residency with physical residency, with appropriate measures for accountability in place.
  • Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR): The reporting threshold of $10,000 has not been adjusted for inflation since its introduction in the 1970s. Would you support creating a higher reporting threshold for Americans living abroad and indexing the reporting threshold for inflation? I support re-assessing the FBAR threshold, but would want to balance that reassessment with both American and foreign requirements for combatting money laundering and disrupting terrorism financing.
  • Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (GILTI) & Repatriation: Will you support an exemption for small American business owners from the erroneous filing and double taxation from the GILTI tax and retrospective relief from the repatriation tax? I will work to reassess how these impact small businesses, and champion changes to support small businesses abroad.
  • Overall: Will you keep Americans abroad in mind when passing all legislation to ensure no further unintended consequences negatively impact Americans living outside the United States? Regardless of where my constituents live, I will work to represent them.

Tom Nelson

Once elected, will you:

  • Will you co-sponsor 3071 - Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust?
  • Yes

  • Medicare portability: Would you support a pilot program allowing Americans currently receiving all or the majority of their Medicare benefits in the US to have the option of receiving these benefits overseas?

It is unfortunate that so many Americans pay into medicare and are unable to receive the benefits, forcing them to either pay more for private insurance or take costly trips back to the US. The current system is unfair and I pledge to change it to be one that represents all Americans. I unequivocally support Medicare for All, meaning universal coverage for all Americans, regardless of their residency status, making a pilot program redundant. We need to adopt medicare for all to give all Americans access to affordable healthcare regardless of where they are as health care is a human right and no one should be forced to take on an enormous financial burden just to ensure their health. Right now, access to healthcare and medicare benefits abroad is limited to government officials or members of the military, leaving everyday Americans abroad behind. This inequality must be addressed and the best way is to adopt Medicare for All.

  • Residency-based taxation (RBT): A majority of Americans abroad are working and middle class but are subject to excessively complex filing requirements and tax treatment more punitive than if we lived in the US. We suffer from unfair and outdated stereotypes that we are moving abroad to evade paying US taxes, when research confirms that most Americans move abroad to marry a non-US spouse or for 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.”

I support adjusting our tax code to be in line with residency. Many citizens living abroad are overwhelmed and find it difficult to not only calculate their own taxes but having to pay twice to different nations. I believe, the fairest system of taxation is to tax individuals based on where they live, saving them money and not having to deal with the sometimes overly complicated tax codes. We must ensure that if we shift to a residency-based system, it is not taken advantage of by individuals looking to commit tax fraud and evasion.

  • Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR): The reporting threshold of $10,000 has not been adjusted for inflation since its introduction in the 1970s. Would you support creating a higher reporting threshold for Americans living abroad and indexing the reporting threshold for inflation?

Yes, the $10,000 reporting threshold is an outdated metric and should be adjusted due to inflation after 50 years at that same level. Furthermore, indexing to inflation will allow for less bureaucratic headaches, and can keep the threshold updated.

  • Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (GILTI) & Repatriation: Will you support an exemption for small American business owners from the erroneous filing and double taxation from the GILTI tax and retrospective relief from the repatriation tax?

What we should have is a minimum global corporate tax rate overall, so we don’t have corporations taking advantage of tax loopholes.

  • Overall: Will you keep Americans abroad in mind when passing all legislation to ensure no further unintended consequences negatively impact Americans living outside the United States?

My biggest priority is to fight for all Americans, regardless of where they live, political affiliation, or anything else. When elected, I promise to fight for and listen to the concerns of all my constituents, whether here in Wisconsin or living abroad.

Peter Peckarsky

Once elected, will you:

  • Introduce Senate counterpart versions of these bills that will help Americans abroad?

  • Yes, if the conditions at the time (which are unknown, and unknowable now and not stated in the question) make such action reasonable and appropriate and in the best interests of both the people of Wisconsin and the United States of America.

  • Yes, if the conditions at the time (which are unknown, and unknowable now and not stated in the question) make such action reasonable and appropriate and in the best interests of both the people of Wisconsin and the United States of America.

  • Yes, if the conditions at the time (which are unknown, and unknowable now and not stated in the question) make such action reasonable and appropriate and in the best interests of both the people of Wisconsin and the United States of America.

  • Will you co-sponsor 3071 - Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust?

    Yes, if the conditions at the time (which are unknown, and unknowable now and not stated in the question) make such action reasonable and appropriate and in the best interests of both the people of Wisconsin and the United States of America.

  • Medicare portability: Would you support a pilot program allowing Americans currently receiving all or the majority of their Medicare benefits in the US to have the option of receiving these benefits overseas?

Yes, I would.

  • Residency-based taxation (RBT): A majority of Americans abroad are working and middle class but are subject to excessively complex filing requirements and tax treatment more punitive than if we lived in the US. We suffer from unfair and outdated stereotypes that we are moving abroad to evade paying US taxes, when research confirms that most Americans move abroad to marry a non-US spouse or for 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.”

Yes, I would support Residency-based taxation, if the conditions at the time (which are unknown, and unknowable now and not stated in the question) make such action reasonable and appropriate and in the best interests of both the people of Wisconsin and the United States of America.

  • Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR): The reporting threshold of $10,000 has not been adjusted for inflation since its introduction in the 1970s. Would you support creating a higher reporting threshold for Americans living abroad and indexing the reporting threshold for inflation?

Yes, if the conditions at the time (which are unknown, and unknowable now and not stated in the question) make such action reasonable and appropriate and in the best interests of both the people of Wisconsin and the United States of America.

  • Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (GILTI) & Repatriation: Will you support an exemption for small American business owners from the erroneous filing and double taxation from the GILTI tax and retrospective relief from the repatriation tax?

Yes, if the conditions at the time (which are unknown, and unknowable now and not stated in the question) make such action reasonable and appropriate and in the best interests of both the people of Wisconsin and the United States of America.

  • Overall: Will you keep Americans abroad in mind when passing all legislation to ensure no further unintended consequences negatively impact Americans living outside the United States?

Yes, I would.

Steven Olikara

Once elected, will you:

Yes. My first priority in Congress is strengthening our democracy by making government work for all Wisconsinites, including those living abroad. The legislation listed above provides support and relief for Wisconsinites living outside the United States.

Yes.

  • Medicare portability: Would you support a pilot program allowing Americans currently receiving all or the majority of their Medicare benefits in the US to have the option of receiving these benefits overseas?

Yes.

  • Residency-based taxation (RBT): A majority of Americans abroad are working and middle class but are subject to excessively complex filing requirements and tax treatment more punitive than if we lived in the US. We suffer from unfair and outdated stereotypes that we are moving abroad to evade paying US taxes, when research confirms that most Americans move abroad to marry a non-US spouse or for 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.”

Yes.

  • Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR): The reporting threshold of $10,000 has not been adjusted for inflation since its introduction in the 1970s. Would you support creating a higher reporting threshold for Americans living abroad and indexing the reporting threshold for inflation?

Yes.

  • Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (GILTI) & Repatriation: Will you support an exemption for small American business owners from the erroneous filing and double taxation from the GILTI tax and retrospective relief from the repatriation tax?

Yes. I support repatriation of tax dollars while also ensuring we meet the needs of American small business owners, both domestically and abroad. I’m the only entrepreneur in this race who, as Founder and Former CEO of the Millennial Action Project, built a large, multi-million dollar organization from the ground up.

  • Overall: Will you keep Americans abroad in mind when passing all legislation to ensure no further unintended consequences negatively impact Americans living outside the United States?

Yes. I am committed to keeping all Wisconsinites in mind when passing legislation. This connects to my commitment to craft legislation with those closest to the issues. I will work on legislation with Americans at home and abroad. My campaign is centered on ensuring dignity for all at home and abroad. I have extensive foreign policy experience, from development work with USAID, to helping provide electricity to over 1 million homes through Akon Lighting Africa, and serving in President Obama’s delegations abroad. I serve on the Advisory Board of UW-Madison’s International Division and have led young American elected officials to pass 35 bills through Congress and more at the state level. I’m uniquely qualified for the responsibilities of a U.S. Senator, and prepared to ensure dignity in our public policy.

*Democrats Abroad has not endorsed any candidate(s) and is committed to remaining neutral for the duration of the primary. ALL candidates for this race were invited to answer the list of questions. Candidate answers are published in the order received.