Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Debbie Mucarsel-Powell completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mucarsel-Powell's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading-bio-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy name is Debbie Mucarsel Powell and I’m a proud mother, Ecuadorian, and Floridian– and I’m running for US Senate to defeat Rick Scott. I’ll never stop fighting for the issues important to Floridians because they’re personal to me. The people that Rick Scott has hurt with his extremist policies are my friends, my family, and my community. Only in Florida is it possible for an immigrant like me to have gone from working a minimum-wage job to serving in Congress. My story shouldn’t be the exception, it should be the rule. But under Rick Scott, those opportunities are harder to come by. Rick Scott backs Florida’s abortion ban and wrote the plan to raise taxes on the middle class and sunset Social Security and Medicare. I’m running to expand opportunities like the ones I had growing up, protect your hard-earned benefits, and champion Floridians’ freedoms. I am uniquely able to deliver on these promises because I’ve always put politics aside to bring coalitions together for investment and positive change in my community – from leading the FIU Medical School to securing better access to health care and millions of dollars for Everglades restoration while in Congress.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading-key-message-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>I plan to lower costs so that working families and young people don’t have to struggle to make ends meet or afford college. I’m fighting to lower the cost of gas, groceries, and insurance. As Senator, I would push legislation to lower home insurance rates by 25%, expand the Child Tax Credit to help over 1 million Florida families, and fight against the corporate consolidation of big grocery chains that drive up prices. I’d also back initiatives to compete with China by bringing the solar panel supply chain to Florida, lowering energy costs and creating jobs. Additionally, I will champion legislation to support unions, provide seed grants to Florida startups, and promote buying American.</li><li>I will always champion Floridians’ rights to make their own decisions without government interference and protect our freedoms from extremists like Rick Scott who back Florida’s abortion ban with no real exceptions for rape, incest, or the health of the mother. These dangerous bans that Rick Scott supports only lead to increased rates of maternal mortality – which disproportionately affect Black women and other women of color. And now they’re coming for access to contraception and IVF – Rick Scott voted against protecting access to both. Government has no right to interfere in Floridians’ personal health care decisions, and as Senator, I would protect Floridians’ reproductive freedoms – including access to abortion, IVF, and contraception.</li><li>I will protect our retirement benefits and fight to preserve Social Security and Medicare. Our own Senator, Rick Scott, wrote the plan to end those programs as we know them. He would take away our hard-earned benefits. My mother lives with me, I take care of her, and I have seen firsthand how essential those benefits are that she worked for. I won’t let anyone take it away. Not from her, not from any of us.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading1-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am passionate about protecting Floridans’ fundamental rights and expanding economic opportunities. I am also dedicated to protecting voting rights to strengthen our democracy. Attacks on voting rights undermine democracy and disproportionately target communities of color. I will work across the aisle to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act which will provide critical voter protections to all Floridians.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading2-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat legacy would you like to leave?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI hope to be remembered as a Senator who fought and delivered for Floridians – a Senator who put partisan politics aside and prioritized our families' and children’s well being above anything else. I will address Florida’s affordability crisis, and I am ready to work with anyone from any political party to tackle the rising cost of living in Florida, expand Medicare and Social Security, and protect our fundamental freedoms.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading3-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWe need to invest in creating good-paying jobs and attracting more business here to the United States. When jobs leave Florida and our country to go overseas, opportunities to join the middle class and investments in our communities go with them. We have to focus on expanding opportunities here in Florida and investing in our future to ensure we can continue to compete on the world stage.<br/>\n<p>We also have to address the attacks on our freedom and our democracy that we’ve witnessed over the past years. In the Senate, I will champion every Floridian’s freedom to make their own decisions without government interference and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. Recent attacks on voting rights undermine democracy and disproportionately target communities of color. For democracy to thrive, we must safeguard voting rights. I will work across the aisle to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which will provide critical voter protections to all Floridians. <br/>\n</p>\nI will also fight for democracy across our hemisphere. The United States must stand against left and right-wing dictators who are starving their people, using violence to retaliate, and forcing them to flee their home countries like Haiti and Venezuela. We must protect democracy here and abroad.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading4-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI do believe that previous experience in government or politics is a beneficial quality in a Senator, but what’s more important is that our representatives have lived experiences that reflect those of the people we’re running to represent. Senators must be able to not only relate to their constituents, but effectively legislate policies that benefit them. I worked at a doughnut shop to help my family make ends meet in high school. After high school and college, I worked for various nonprofits such as the Zoo Miami Foundation, the Hope Center, and the Coral Restoration Foundation. I spent over a decade working for Florida International University and am proud to have helped launch their first medical school. While I was the Associate Dean for the College of Health and Sciences at FIU, I helped lead a program to expand access to affordable health care to more Floridians. In 2018, I was proud to become the first South American immigrant elected to Congress. I proudly served my community until 2021. After serving in Congress, I worked for Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to create safer communities. I understand the needs of everyday hardworking Americans, and I have the experience in policy that will make me an effective legislator to implement policies that will support these Americans.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading5-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you think of the filibuster?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tDemocracy is 50-plus-one, and for certain issues, I am very much in favor of pausing the filibuster. I believe we absolutely need to pause the filibuster to protect voting rights and abortion rights. One of the first things we must do in the Senate is pause the filibuster to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and to make Roe v. Wade the law of the land.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading6-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat kind of relationships would you build with other senators?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI will build working relationships with Senators regardless of party affiliation. To provide for the American people, we must end the gridlock, and that starts with electing new leaders ready to work across the aisle and solve the issues facing Florida. Rick Scott, one of the least bipartisan Senators, has been in elected office for 14 years and all he has done is push an agenda to take away our freedoms and raise taxes on the middle class. I am prepared to work with any leader to push legislation that will address the critical needs of Floridians. Together, we can tackle the rising cost of living in Florida, expand Medicare and Social Security, and protect our fundamental freedoms.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-202750-2024-08-21\" id=\"heading7-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-202750-2024-08-21\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-202750-2024-08-21\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-202750-2024-08-21\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe goal as a Senator should be to solve issues facing Americans. Oftentimes, this requires compromise. In the House of Representatives, I worked alongside Republicans to deliver $200 million in Everglades restoration funding to our state. I am ready and willing to work with different leaders and coalitions in order to build a future that works for all Americans.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nDebbie Mucarsel-Powell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mucarsel-Powell's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. My name is Debbie Mucarsel Powell and I’m a proud mother, Ecuadorian, and Floridian– and I’m running for US Senate to defeat Rick Scott. I’ll never stop fighting for the issues important to Floridians because they’re personal to me. The people that Rick Scott has hurt with his extremist policies are my friends, my family, and my community. Only in Florida is it possible for an immigrant like me to have gone from working a minimum-wage job to serving in Congress. My story shouldn’t be the exception, it should be the rule. But under Rick Scott, those opportunities are harder to come by. Rick Scott backs Florida’s abortion ban and wrote the plan to raise taxes on the middle class and sunset Social Security and Medicare. I’m running to expand opportunities like the ones I had growing up, protect your hard-earned benefits, and champion Floridians’ freedoms. I am uniquely able to deliver on these promises because I’ve always put politics aside to bring coalitions together for investment and positive change in my community – from leading the FIU Medical School to securing better access to health care and millions of dollars for Everglades restoration while in Congress. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? I plan to lower costs so that working families and young people don’t have to struggle to make ends meet or afford college. I’m fighting to lower the cost of gas, groceries, and insurance. As Senator, I would push legislation to lower home insurance rates by 25%, expand the Child Tax Credit to help over 1 million Florida families, and fight against the corporate consolidation of big grocery chains that drive up prices. I’d also back initiatives to compete with China by bringing the solar panel supply chain to Florida, lowering energy costs and creating jobs. Additionally, I will champion legislation to support unions, provide seed grants to Florida startups, and promote buying American. I will always champion Floridians’ rights to make their own decisions without government interference and protect our freedoms from extremists like Rick Scott who back Florida’s abortion ban with no real exceptions for rape, incest, or the health of the mother. These dangerous bans that Rick Scott supports only lead to increased rates of maternal mortality – which disproportionately affect Black women and other women of color. And now they’re coming for access to contraception and IVF – Rick Scott voted against protecting access to both. Government has no right to interfere in Floridians’ personal health care decisions, and as Senator, I would protect Floridians’ reproductive freedoms – including access to abortion, IVF, and contraception. I will protect our retirement benefits and fight to preserve Social Security and Medicare. Our own Senator, Rick Scott, wrote the plan to end those programs as we know them. He would take away our hard-earned benefits. My mother lives with me, I take care of her, and I have seen firsthand how essential those benefits are that she worked for. I won’t let anyone take it away. Not from her, not from any of us. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? I am passionate about protecting Floridans’ fundamental rights and expanding economic opportunities. I am also dedicated to protecting voting rights to strengthen our democracy. Attacks on voting rights undermine democracy and disproportionately target communities of color. I will work across the aisle to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act which will provide critical voter protections to all Floridians. What legacy would you like to leave? I hope to be remembered as a Senator who fought and delivered for Floridians – a Senator who put partisan politics aside and prioritized our families' and children’s well being above anything else. I will address Florida’s affordability crisis, and I am ready to work with anyone from any political party to tackle the rising cost of living in Florida, expand Medicare and Social Security, and protect our fundamental freedoms. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? We need to invest in creating good-paying jobs and attracting more business here to the United States. When jobs leave Florida and our country to go overseas, opportunities to join the middle class and investments in our communities go with them. We have to focus on expanding opportunities here in Florida and investing in our future to ensure we can continue to compete on the world stage. We also have to address the attacks on our freedom and our democracy that we’ve witnessed over the past years. In the Senate, I will champion every Floridian’s freedom to make their own decisions without government interference and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. Recent attacks on voting rights undermine democracy and disproportionately target communities of color. For democracy to thrive, we must safeguard voting rights. I will work across the aisle to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which will provide critical voter protections to all Floridians. I will also fight for democracy across our hemisphere. The United States must stand against left and right-wing dictators who are starving their people, using violence to retaliate, and forcing them to flee their home countries like Haiti and Venezuela. We must protect democracy here and abroad. Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics? I do believe that previous experience in government or politics is a beneficial quality in a Senator, but what’s more important is that our representatives have lived experiences that reflect those of the people we’re running to represent. Senators must be able to not only relate to their constituents, but effectively legislate policies that benefit them. I worked at a doughnut shop to help my family make ends meet in high school. After high school and college, I worked for various nonprofits such as the Zoo Miami Foundation, the Hope Center, and the Coral Restoration Foundation. I spent over a decade working for Florida International University and am proud to have helped launch their first medical school. While I was the Associate Dean for the College of Health and Sciences at FIU, I helped lead a program to expand access to affordable health care to more Floridians. In 2018, I was proud to become the first South American immigrant elected to Congress. I proudly served my community until 2021. After serving in Congress, I worked for Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to create safer communities. I understand the needs of everyday hardworking Americans, and I have the experience in policy that will make me an effective legislator to implement policies that will support these Americans. What do you think of the filibuster? Democracy is 50-plus-one, and for certain issues, I am very much in favor of pausing the filibuster. I believe we absolutely need to pause the filibuster to protect voting rights and abortion rights. One of the first things we must do in the Senate is pause the filibuster to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and to make Roe v. Wade the law of the land. What kind of relationships would you build with other senators? I will build working relationships with Senators regardless of party affiliation. To provide for the American people, we must end the gridlock, and that starts with electing new leaders ready to work across the aisle and solve the issues facing Florida. Rick Scott, one of the least bipartisan Senators, has been in elected office for 14 years and all he has done is push an agenda to take away our freedoms and raise taxes on the middle class. I am prepared to work with any leader to push legislation that will address the critical needs of Floridians. Together, we can tackle the rising cost of living in Florida, expand Medicare and Social Security, and protect our fundamental freedoms. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? The goal as a Senator should be to solve issues facing Americans. Oftentimes, this requires compromise. In the House of Representatives, I worked alongside Republicans to deliver $200 million in Everglades restoration funding to our state. I am ready and willing to work with different leaders and coalitions in order to build a future that works for all Americans.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b><big><big><big>ON THE ISSUES</big></big></big></b><br/><br/>\n</p><p><b><big>REDUCING HIGH COSTS AND INFLATION</big></b>\n</p><p>The cost of living is skyrocketing in Florida. As an immigrant who worked her way through high school and college at minimum wage jobs, Debbie is running for the U.S. Senate because she knows firsthand that we need to do more to support hard-working Floridians who are struggling. From the rising costs of homeowners insurance to housing to health care, prices are out of control and Floridians are fed up. And to make matters worse, we have a Senator in Rick Scott who is completely out of touch with the real problems that so many in Florida are facing. In the Senate, Debbie will tackle rising costs head on. Unlike Rick Scott, she opposes raising taxes on the middle class. Debbie also supports investing in job and vocational training to create opportunities for Floridians to establish strong careers.<br/><br/>\n</p><p><b><big>PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE</big></b>\n</p><p>Debbie lives with her elderly mother and is her primary caretaker, so she understands the critical role both Medicare and Social Security play for our seniors. While Senator Rick Scott wrote the plan to defund Medicare and Social Security, in Congress Debbie wrote the plan to expand Medicare. From her time as an associate dean at the FIU medical school to her time in Congress, Debbie has worked at the state and national level to expand health care access to Americans and protect our seniors who have worked their entire lives to earn their retirement. Rick Scott’s plan would increase the number of seniors in poverty by 40%. Protecting Social Security and expanding access to Medicare are two of her highest priorities in the U.S. Senate. Too many Floridians rely on these services to let extremist Republicans like Rick Scott gut them.<br/><br/>\n</p><p><b><big>REDUCING COSTS AND THE PRICE OF MEDICATION</big></b>\n</p><p>Debbie knows that for too many Floridians, health care costs too much and provides too little. And the costs keep going up. As Associate Dean at FIU Medical School, Debbie worked hard to expand health care access to thousands of Floridians, an issue that inspired her to run for public office. Debbie supports ensuring that Floridians have access to high quality affordable health care so no Floridian has to worry about seeking the care they need and being served a surprise medical bill that could bankrupt them and their family. Debbie sponsored legislation to expand Medicare and reduce the price of medication. Meanwhile, Senator Rick Scott wrote the plan to cut Medicare and said as recently as this year that he would support repealing the Affordable Care Act, ripping affordable health care away from over 3 million Floridians, including those with pre-existing conditions. Rick Scott also opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, which stops drug companies from jacking up prices for life saving medications like insulin.<br/><br/>\n</p><p><b><big>PROTECTING CLEAN WATER AND OUR ENVIRONMENT</big></b>\n</p><p>Florida’s natural beauty and unique environment is one of the many things that makes it so special – and is a key driver of our economic prosperity and tourism in Florida. In Congress, Debbie represented South Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Everglades, and worked across the aisle to bring over $200 million to the state for environmental and Everglades preservation. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, Debbie delivered nearly $10 million in essential FEMA funding for South Florida communities. In the U.S. Senate, Debbie will fight for funding to help Florida build the climate-resilient infrastructure needed to fight climate change. Unlike Rick Scott who banned the use of the term “climate change” as Governor and dismisses it as “nuisance flooding,” Debbie knows climate change is real and she is ready to take action to address the climate crisis that is impacting Floridians, their lives, and their property. <br/><br/>\n</p><p><b><big>KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES AND KIDS SAFE</big></b>\n</p><p>Debbie knows that in order to make our communities safer, we have to take action to address gun violence. In addition to supporting our law enforcement officers and ensuring they have the resources they need to keep our communities safe, Debbie recognizes that lawmakers must also do their part to help keep Floridians safe. The fight to end gun violence is deeply personal for Debbie. At just 24 years old, Debbie lost her father to gun violence, and has since been a dedicated advocate for expanding gun safety laws. In Congress, Debbie served as a Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and as a Member of the Judiciary Committee she helped pass landmark legislation through the House to expand background checks on all gun sales and close loopholes in America’s gun laws that put victims of domestic abuse at risk. Debbie also worked to increase consistent, long-term investments in community violence intervention programs But self-serving politicians like Rick Scott continue to play politics in Washington and put the gun lobby before the safety of Florida’s families. <br/><br/>\n</p><p><b><big>PUTTING NATIONAL SECURITY &amp; DEMOCRACY FIRST</big></b>\n</p><p>America is the strongest nation in the world, with workers and an economy that can out-compete any nation. We must maintain American strength and competitiveness. Debbie knows that starts with defending democracy abroad as authoritarian regimes across the world like Nicaragua and Russia brutalize their own populations, wage destructive wars, and threaten international stability. \n</p><p>That’s why Debbie stands against the dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela and has always fought for freedom for oppressed peoples. In 2023 as the Senior Advisor to the Summit of the Americas, she led the successful push to ban Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from the Summit of the Americas, because she believes these illegitimate regimes should never be normalized. She also stands against Vladimir Putin’s unacceptable aggression in Ukraine. \n</p><p>Debbie supports Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, and has called for aid to be delivered immediately to Israel and to the innocent civilians in Gaza who are suffering under a terrorist organization.\n</p><p>Debbie will also stand up to China’s harmful trade practices that hurt American businesses, and she supports tough trade policies that protect Florida’s workers and businesses. In the Senate, Debbie will ensure Florida’s trade-centric economy is strong and resilient.<br/><br/>\n</p><p><b><big>PROTECTING WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO HEALTHCARE AND ABORTION</big></b>\n</p><p>Debbie knows that the decision to have an abortion is a decision that must be made between a woman, her family, and her doctor — not extremist politicians who want to criminalize health care providers. She knows the abortion bans that have passed across the country, including the radical six week ban in Florida, are putting women’s lives at risk by increasing the risk of maternal mortality and ultimately stripping them of their fundamental freedoms. As a mother to two daughters, Debbie is committed to fighting to protect every woman’s right to make the decision that is best for them. Meanwhile, extremist Rick Scott cosponsored a national abortion ban in the Senate and enthusiastically threw his support behind the six week ban in Florida before most women know they are pregnant. Debbie trusts Floridians – not Rick Scott – to make their own health care decisions.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_29-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-29\">[29]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign website (2024)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-30\"><a href=\"#cite_note-30\">[30]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<p>Debbie Mucarsel-Powell did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>", "answer_text": "Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign website stated the following:\n“ ON THE ISSUES REDUCING HIGH COSTS AND INFLATION The cost of living is skyrocketing in Florida. As an immigrant who worked her way through high school and college at minimum wage jobs, Debbie is running for the U.S. Senate because she knows firsthand that we need to do more to support hard-working Floridians who are struggling. From the rising costs of homeowners insurance to housing to health care, prices are out of control and Floridians are fed up. And to make matters worse, we have a Senator in Rick Scott who is completely out of touch with the real problems that so many in Florida are facing. In the Senate, Debbie will tackle rising costs head on. Unlike Rick Scott, she opposes raising taxes on the middle class. Debbie also supports investing in job and vocational training to create opportunities for Floridians to establish strong careers. PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE Debbie lives with her elderly mother and is her primary caretaker, so she understands the critical role both Medicare and Social Security play for our seniors. While Senator Rick Scott wrote the plan to defund Medicare and Social Security, in Congress Debbie wrote the plan to expand Medicare. From her time as an associate dean at the FIU medical school to her time in Congress, Debbie has worked at the state and national level to expand health care access to Americans and protect our seniors who have worked their entire lives to earn their retirement. Rick Scott’s plan would increase the number of seniors in poverty by 40%. Protecting Social Security and expanding access to Medicare are two of her highest priorities in the U.S. Senate. Too many Floridians rely on these services to let extremist Republicans like Rick Scott gut them. REDUCING COSTS AND THE PRICE OF MEDICATION Debbie knows that for too many Floridians, health care costs too much and provides too little. And the costs keep going up. As Associate Dean at FIU Medical School, Debbie worked hard to expand health care access to thousands of Floridians, an issue that inspired her to run for public office. Debbie supports ensuring that Floridians have access to high quality affordable health care so no Floridian has to worry about seeking the care they need and being served a surprise medical bill that could bankrupt them and their family. Debbie sponsored legislation to expand Medicare and reduce the price of medication. Meanwhile, Senator Rick Scott wrote the plan to cut Medicare and said as recently as this year that he would support repealing the Affordable Care Act, ripping affordable health care away from over 3 million Floridians, including those with pre-existing conditions. Rick Scott also opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, which stops drug companies from jacking up prices for life saving medications like insulin. PROTECTING CLEAN WATER AND OUR ENVIRONMENT Florida’s natural beauty and unique environment is one of the many things that makes it so special – and is a key driver of our economic prosperity and tourism in Florida. In Congress, Debbie represented South Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Everglades, and worked across the aisle to bring over $200 million to the state for environmental and Everglades preservation. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, Debbie delivered nearly $10 million in essential FEMA funding for South Florida communities. In the U.S. Senate, Debbie will fight for funding to help Florida build the climate-resilient infrastructure needed to fight climate change. Unlike Rick Scott who banned the use of the term “climate change” as Governor and dismisses it as “nuisance flooding,” Debbie knows climate change is real and she is ready to take action to address the climate crisis that is impacting Floridians, their lives, and their property. KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES AND KIDS SAFE Debbie knows that in order to make our communities safer, we have to take action to address gun violence. In addition to supporting our law enforcement officers and ensuring they have the resources they need to keep our communities safe, Debbie recognizes that lawmakers must also do their part to help keep Floridians safe. The fight to end gun violence is deeply personal for Debbie. At just 24 years old, Debbie lost her father to gun violence, and has since been a dedicated advocate for expanding gun safety laws. In Congress, Debbie served as a Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and as a Member of the Judiciary Committee she helped pass landmark legislation through the House to expand background checks on all gun sales and close loopholes in America’s gun laws that put victims of domestic abuse at risk. Debbie also worked to increase consistent, long-term investments in community violence intervention programs But self-serving politicians like Rick Scott continue to play politics in Washington and put the gun lobby before the safety of Florida’s families. PUTTING NATIONAL SECURITY & DEMOCRACY FIRST America is the strongest nation in the world, with workers and an economy that can out-compete any nation. We must maintain American strength and competitiveness. Debbie knows that starts with defending democracy abroad as authoritarian regimes across the world like Nicaragua and Russia brutalize their own populations, wage destructive wars, and threaten international stability. That’s why Debbie stands against the dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela and has always fought for freedom for oppressed peoples. In 2023 as the Senior Advisor to the Summit of the Americas, she led the successful push to ban Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from the Summit of the Americas, because she believes these illegitimate regimes should never be normalized. She also stands against Vladimir Putin’s unacceptable aggression in Ukraine. Debbie supports Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, and has called for aid to be delivered immediately to Israel and to the innocent civilians in Gaza who are suffering under a terrorist organization. Debbie will also stand up to China’s harmful trade practices that hurt American businesses, and she supports tough trade policies that protect Florida’s workers and businesses. In the Senate, Debbie will ensure Florida’s trade-centric economy is strong and resilient. PROTECTING WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO HEALTHCARE AND ABORTION Debbie knows that the decision to have an abortion is a decision that must be made between a woman, her family, and her doctor — not extremist politicians who want to criminalize health care providers. She knows the abortion bans that have passed across the country, including the radical six week ban in Florida, are putting women’s lives at risk by increasing the risk of maternal mortality and ultimately stripping them of their fundamental freedoms. As a mother to two daughters, Debbie is committed to fighting to protect every woman’s right to make the decision that is best for them. Meanwhile, extremist Rick Scott cosponsored a national abortion ban in the Senate and enthusiastically threw his support behind the six week ban in Florida before most women know they are pregnant. Debbie trusts Floridians – not Rick Scott – to make their own health care decisions. [29] ” —Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign website (2024) [30]\n\nDebbie Mucarsel-Powell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Mucarsel-Powell's campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>Healthcare</b>\n</p><p>If you have diabetes, asthma, cancer, or any other pre-existing condition, you deserve affordable, quality healthcare, and you deserve to be protected from insurance companies that would deny you coverage. It’s that simple. No family should have to choose between putting food on the table or filling their children’s prescriptions.\n</p><p>I’ve spent my career working to expand access to healthcare. As associate dean at Florida International University’s College of Medicine, I helped establish and grow the NeighborhoodHELP program, which brought mobile health clinics that provided life-saving care to underprivileged communities across South Florida. In Congress, I have been steadfast in my pledge to protect people with pre-existing conditions, to lower prescription drug costs, and to secure Medicare for Florida’s seniors.\n</p><p><b>Economy</b>\n</p><p>Hard-working people deserve to earn a living wage, and our families deserve a tax system that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest Americans. We need to bring good-paying jobs to South Florida, raise the minimum wage, and make sure Floridians can get the skills they need through job training programs.\n</p><p>My single mom brought me and my three sisters to the United States from Ecuador in search of opportunity. At 15, I started working for minimum wage at a donut shop to help my family make ends meet, and with the help of a scholarship, I was able to go to college and eventually earn a master’s degree.\n</p><p>Those same opportunities that helped us get ahead are disappearing for too many families across this country. That’s why I’m committed to investing in workers, who are the backbone of our economy.\n</p><p><b>Education</b>\n</p><p>Every single child should have the opportunity to reach his or her highest potential. I truly believe in investing in our public education system to ensure every child has access to a quality K-12 education, regardless of zip code. We must make college more affordable and that starts with creating a plan for debt free community college, expanding financial aid programs, and lowering interest rates on student loans.\n</p><p><b>Immigration</b>\n</p><p>We’ve all seen the images of children separated from their parents at the border. That’s not who we are as a country. And we must fight back.\n</p><p>As an immigrant from Ecuador and a first-generation American, I know many of the challenges that immigrants face in this country, especially under this administration. For years, we’ve talked about fixing our broken immigration system. Now let’s finally do it by creating a path to citizenship for DREAMers, allowing TPS holders to become permanent residents, and protecting our asylum process for those who need it most, including those who have recently arrived from Venezuela and Nicaragua.\n</p><p>In Congress, I have fought tirelessly to close down the Homestead Detention Center for Migrant Children and ensure that those children are placed in safe environments. The facility has been a scar on our community, and we will never fully know the damage done to these children, many whom were separated from their families at the border. And I will not stop pushing until the Trump Administration again extends TPS to Venezuelans and Haitians in need.\n</p><p>Our history as a nation of immigrants makes us a stronger country, and our diversity is what makes South Florida so special.\n</p><p><b>Environment</b>\n</p><p>Stronger storms. Increased flooding. Red tide. Algae blooms. Tons of dead fish washing up on our coasts. We can’t ignore the horrible images, and we can’t keep talking about protecting our coast and our environment. South Florida is ground zero for climate change, and we must act now.\n</p><p>Through my work at the Coral Restoration Foundation, I’ve worked to slow the impact of climate change on our marine life and our reefs. I’m committed to investing in clean energy and innovative infrastructure, not just to move us to a low fossil fuel economy but also to protect our communities from sea-level rise.\n</p><p>In Congress, I serve in leadership on this issue as the Vice Chairwoman of the U.S. House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. I’ve helped secure $200 million in funding for Everglades restoration and remain committed to protecting our vibrant ecosystem.\n</p><p><b>Gun Safety</b>\n</p><p>I lost my father at the age of 24 to gun violence. I know what it’s like to receive that devastating phone call that changes your life forever, so you’ll never have to wonder where I stand on passing common-sense gun reform that will protect our children and our communities.\n</p><p>Gun violence is an epidemic in the United States. We must ban military-style assault weapons. We must close the gun show loophole. We must require universal background checks. We must prevent those with a history of domestic violence or terrorism from purchasing a gun. And we must prevent firearms from falling in the hands of people with mental illness. It’s time.\n</p><p><b>Women</b>\n</p><p>The idea that a woman should be paid the same as a man for doing the exact same work is not revolutionary. And we need more female voices in Washington to help end gender discrimination and fight for equal rights for all of us.\n</p><p>As a mother, sister, and daughter, I will fight for women’s rights, especially for women of color who face additional barriers to full equality. In Congress, I’m working to ensure paid maternity leave, pass child care legislation, and protect reproductive freedom. And I will always stand with Planned Parenthood.\n</p><p><b>Tax Reform</b>\n</p><p>We need real tax reform—but not at the expense of hard-working families. The Republican tax plan passed in 2017 raised taxes on millions of middle-class families and eliminated critical deductions, all to give wealthy corporations and billionaires a handout. This plan added $1.9 trillion to our country’s debt, and now Republicans want to pay for it by cutting Social Security and Medicare.\n</p><p>As I talk with families in South Florida, what I hear over and over again is that they’re struggling to make ends meet. The cost of living keeps rising, but wages aren’t keeping up. We don’t need more tax breaks for billionaires, or for corporations that ship jobs overseas. We need a tax system that helps small businesses and hard-working people get ahead.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_29-1\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-29\">[29]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Debbie Mucarsel-Powell's campaign website (2020)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-31\"><a href=\"#cite_note-31\">[31]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>", "answer_text": "Mucarsel-Powell's campaign website stated the following:\n“ Healthcare If you have diabetes, asthma, cancer, or any other pre-existing condition, you deserve affordable, quality healthcare, and you deserve to be protected from insurance companies that would deny you coverage. It’s that simple. No family should have to choose between putting food on the table or filling their children’s prescriptions. I’ve spent my career working to expand access to healthcare. As associate dean at Florida International University’s College of Medicine, I helped establish and grow the NeighborhoodHELP program, which brought mobile health clinics that provided life-saving care to underprivileged communities across South Florida. In Congress, I have been steadfast in my pledge to protect people with pre-existing conditions, to lower prescription drug costs, and to secure Medicare for Florida’s seniors. Economy Hard-working people deserve to earn a living wage, and our families deserve a tax system that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest Americans. We need to bring good-paying jobs to South Florida, raise the minimum wage, and make sure Floridians can get the skills they need through job training programs. My single mom brought me and my three sisters to the United States from Ecuador in search of opportunity. At 15, I started working for minimum wage at a donut shop to help my family make ends meet, and with the help of a scholarship, I was able to go to college and eventually earn a master’s degree. Those same opportunities that helped us get ahead are disappearing for too many families across this country. That’s why I’m committed to investing in workers, who are the backbone of our economy. Education Every single child should have the opportunity to reach his or her highest potential. I truly believe in investing in our public education system to ensure every child has access to a quality K-12 education, regardless of zip code. We must make college more affordable and that starts with creating a plan for debt free community college, expanding financial aid programs, and lowering interest rates on student loans. Immigration We’ve all seen the images of children separated from their parents at the border. That’s not who we are as a country. And we must fight back. As an immigrant from Ecuador and a first-generation American, I know many of the challenges that immigrants face in this country, especially under this administration. For years, we’ve talked about fixing our broken immigration system. Now let’s finally do it by creating a path to citizenship for DREAMers, allowing TPS holders to become permanent residents, and protecting our asylum process for those who need it most, including those who have recently arrived from Venezuela and Nicaragua. In Congress, I have fought tirelessly to close down the Homestead Detention Center for Migrant Children and ensure that those children are placed in safe environments. The facility has been a scar on our community, and we will never fully know the damage done to these children, many whom were separated from their families at the border. And I will not stop pushing until the Trump Administration again extends TPS to Venezuelans and Haitians in need. Our history as a nation of immigrants makes us a stronger country, and our diversity is what makes South Florida so special. Environment Stronger storms. Increased flooding. Red tide. Algae blooms. Tons of dead fish washing up on our coasts. We can’t ignore the horrible images, and we can’t keep talking about protecting our coast and our environment. South Florida is ground zero for climate change, and we must act now. Through my work at the Coral Restoration Foundation, I’ve worked to slow the impact of climate change on our marine life and our reefs. I’m committed to investing in clean energy and innovative infrastructure, not just to move us to a low fossil fuel economy but also to protect our communities from sea-level rise. In Congress, I serve in leadership on this issue as the Vice Chairwoman of the U.S. House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. I’ve helped secure $200 million in funding for Everglades restoration and remain committed to protecting our vibrant ecosystem. Gun Safety I lost my father at the age of 24 to gun violence. I know what it’s like to receive that devastating phone call that changes your life forever, so you’ll never have to wonder where I stand on passing common-sense gun reform that will protect our children and our communities. Gun violence is an epidemic in the United States. We must ban military-style assault weapons. We must close the gun show loophole. We must require universal background checks. We must prevent those with a history of domestic violence or terrorism from purchasing a gun. And we must prevent firearms from falling in the hands of people with mental illness. It’s time. Women The idea that a woman should be paid the same as a man for doing the exact same work is not revolutionary. And we need more female voices in Washington to help end gender discrimination and fight for equal rights for all of us. As a mother, sister, and daughter, I will fight for women’s rights, especially for women of color who face additional barriers to full equality. In Congress, I’m working to ensure paid maternity leave, pass child care legislation, and protect reproductive freedom. And I will always stand with Planned Parenthood. Tax Reform We need real tax reform—but not at the expense of hard-working families. The Republican tax plan passed in 2017 raised taxes on millions of middle-class families and eliminated critical deductions, all to give wealthy corporations and billionaires a handout. This plan added $1.9 trillion to our country’s debt, and now Republicans want to pay for it by cutting Social Security and Medicare. As I talk with families in South Florida, what I hear over and over again is that they’re struggling to make ends meet. The cost of living keeps rising, but wages aren’t keeping up. We don’t need more tax breaks for billionaires, or for corporations that ship jobs overseas. We need a tax system that helps small businesses and hard-working people get ahead. [29] ” —Debbie Mucarsel-Powell's campaign website (2020) [31]"}, {"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<p>Debbie Mucarsel-Powell completed <a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mucarsel-Powell's responses. </p>\n<div class=\"survey-scrollbox\">\n<div class=\"survey-result\">\n<p class=\"survey-question\">What would be your top three priorities, if elected?</p>\n<p class=\"survey-response\">As a former associate dean at the Florida International University's medical school, I have spent years helping expand access to healthcare in South Florida, and I will fight in Congress to make sure every American can afford their care. I lost my father to gun violence when I was 24 years old, which is why committed to passing common-sense gun reform that protects all American families. And I can't overstate the urgency of taking immediate action to fight climate change.</p>\n</div>\n<div class=\"survey-result\">\n<p class=\"survey-question\">What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?</p>\n<p class=\"survey-response\">Families should never have to choose between putting food on the table or filling their children's prescriptions. That's why we must work to create an economy that works for everyone, whether it's by making sure we have affordable healthcare, making our tax system work for middle-class families, raising wages or investing in education.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"small\">\n<p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p>\n</div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\nDebbie Mucarsel-Powell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mucarsel-Powell's responses.\nWhat would be your top three priorities, if elected? As a former associate dean at the Florida International University's medical school, I have spent years helping expand access to healthcare in South Florida, and I will fight in Congress to make sure every American can afford their care. I lost my father to gun violence when I was 24 years old, which is why committed to passing common-sense gun reform that protects all American families. And I can't overstate the urgency of taking immediate action to fight climate change. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Families should never have to choose between putting food on the table or filling their children's prescriptions. That's why we must work to create an economy that works for everyone, whether it's by making sure we have affordable healthcare, making our tax system work for middle-class families, raising wages or investing in education.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Mucarsel-Powell's campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>Healthcare</b>\n</p><p>Debbie has spent her career working to expand access to health care for families across South Florida. She believes all Americans, regardless of income or zip code, deserve quality care that can never be taken away – and will make improving health care her top priority in Congress. She has pledged to work with her colleagues to improve the Affordable Care Act and to protect Medicare from Republican efforts to raid it. Debbie has a record of working to improve health care access in her community. While at Florida International University College of Medicine, she helped to build public-private partnerships to establish and grow the NeighborhoodHELP program, which provided health care access to underserved communities in South Florida. Her life’s work has been about improving our health care system so no family needs to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need. She will bring that same passion and dedication with her to Washington.\n</p><p><b>Economy</b>\n</p><p>Debbie’s mother and three sisters immigrated to the United States in search of opportunities to better their lives – and through hard work and the opportunities this country provided, they were able to achieve their American Dream. The opportunities that helped Debbie and her family get ahead are disappearing for too many families across the country. Debbie believes we need to boost the economy by bringing good-paying jobs to South Florida and making sure that Floridians can get the skills they need through job training programs. By investing in our workforce, our nation will be more prepared to compete in a global 21st century economy.\n</p><p><b>Education</b>\n</p><p>As a first-generation American, Debbie was able to achieve the American Dream through education, and believes every child should have the same opportunity to reach their highest potential. Debbie believes in fully funding our public education system, ensuring every child has access to a quality K-12 education regardless of their zip code and access to early childhood education. Debbie knows we must make college more affordable by expanding financial aid programs, lowering interest rates for all federal student loans while working on a plan to provide free community college for families.\n</p><p><b>Immigration</b>\n</p><p>As a Hispanic immigrant and first-generation American, Debbie knows firsthand the challenges immigrants face in this country. Just like millions of other families, Debbie’s family came to this country seeking opportunities to better their lives. It is with this compassion that Debbie believes we need to fix our broken immigration system, replacing it with an accountable system that includes an expedited path to citizenship for DREAMers and their families. Bringing eleven million hard-working immigrants out of the shadows and into our system will only strengthen our great nation.\n</p><p><b>Environment</b>\n</p><p>South Florida is ground zero for climate change, and we must lead the way in combating it. We are already seeing its effect in stronger storms and increased flooding, and we cannot afford to wait for action. Through her work at the Coral Restoration Foundation, Debbie has worked to slow the impacts of climate change on our marine life, and knows there is no time to wait when it comes to our environment. Debbie believes we must move quickly to a low fossil fuel economy, invest in clean energy, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and invest in innovative infrastructure to protect our communities from sea-level rise. Florida, the Sunshine State, should be leading the way in solar energy production and reducing our reliance on oil and gas.\n</p><p><b>Gun Safety</b>\n</p><p>Debbie lost her father at the age of 24 to gun violence and understands firsthand the devastating impact gun violence has on our families and communities. Debbie will fight every day to prevent another mother or father, sister or brother, daughter or son from ever receiving the devastating news that a loved one has been taken too soon by gun violence. Gun violence is an epidemic in the United States, which is why Debbie will fight for common-sense gun safety legislation. We must close the gun show loophole by requiring universal background checks, prevent those with a history of domestic violence or terrorism from purchasing a gun, and prevent firearms from falling in the hands of the mentally ill.\n</p><p><b>Women</b>\n</p><p>As a mother, sister, and aunt it is Debbie’s priority to ensure women are paid the same as men for the same work; and especially women of color who particularly get the short end of the stick when it comes to equal pay. Debbie is committed to ensuring real on-the-ground equality for all women. Debbie will fight to end gender discrimination in the areas of education, employment, health care, and all other spheres. She will work to achieve equal pay for women, ensure paid maternity leave, pass child care legislation, and protect reproductive freedom. She will also pledge to always stand with Planned Parenthood.\n</p><p><b>Tax Reform</b>\n</p><p>Debbie believes we need real tax reform—but not at the expense of hard-working families. The Republican tax plan raises taxes on millions of middle-class families and eliminates critical deductions we depend on in order to give big corporations a handout. As Debbie talks with families in FL-26, she hears over and over again that the opportunities to achieve the American Dream are disappearing for too many. That should be our focus, not new tax breaks for millionaires or for companies that ship jobs overseas. Debbie knows we must make it easier for people to make ends meet, not harder.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_29-2\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-29\">[29]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Mucarsel-Powell for Congress<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-32\"><a href=\"#cite_note-32\">[32]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>", "answer_text": "Mucarsel-Powell's campaign website stated the following:\n“ Healthcare Debbie has spent her career working to expand access to health care for families across South Florida. She believes all Americans, regardless of income or zip code, deserve quality care that can never be taken away – and will make improving health care her top priority in Congress. She has pledged to work with her colleagues to improve the Affordable Care Act and to protect Medicare from Republican efforts to raid it. Debbie has a record of working to improve health care access in her community. While at Florida International University College of Medicine, she helped to build public-private partnerships to establish and grow the NeighborhoodHELP program, which provided health care access to underserved communities in South Florida. Her life’s work has been about improving our health care system so no family needs to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need. She will bring that same passion and dedication with her to Washington. Economy Debbie’s mother and three sisters immigrated to the United States in search of opportunities to better their lives – and through hard work and the opportunities this country provided, they were able to achieve their American Dream. The opportunities that helped Debbie and her family get ahead are disappearing for too many families across the country. Debbie believes we need to boost the economy by bringing good-paying jobs to South Florida and making sure that Floridians can get the skills they need through job training programs. By investing in our workforce, our nation will be more prepared to compete in a global 21st century economy. Education As a first-generation American, Debbie was able to achieve the American Dream through education, and believes every child should have the same opportunity to reach their highest potential. Debbie believes in fully funding our public education system, ensuring every child has access to a quality K-12 education regardless of their zip code and access to early childhood education. Debbie knows we must make college more affordable by expanding financial aid programs, lowering interest rates for all federal student loans while working on a plan to provide free community college for families. Immigration As a Hispanic immigrant and first-generation American, Debbie knows firsthand the challenges immigrants face in this country. Just like millions of other families, Debbie’s family came to this country seeking opportunities to better their lives. It is with this compassion that Debbie believes we need to fix our broken immigration system, replacing it with an accountable system that includes an expedited path to citizenship for DREAMers and their families. Bringing eleven million hard-working immigrants out of the shadows and into our system will only strengthen our great nation. Environment South Florida is ground zero for climate change, and we must lead the way in combating it. We are already seeing its effect in stronger storms and increased flooding, and we cannot afford to wait for action. Through her work at the Coral Restoration Foundation, Debbie has worked to slow the impacts of climate change on our marine life, and knows there is no time to wait when it comes to our environment. Debbie believes we must move quickly to a low fossil fuel economy, invest in clean energy, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and invest in innovative infrastructure to protect our communities from sea-level rise. Florida, the Sunshine State, should be leading the way in solar energy production and reducing our reliance on oil and gas. Gun Safety Debbie lost her father at the age of 24 to gun violence and understands firsthand the devastating impact gun violence has on our families and communities. Debbie will fight every day to prevent another mother or father, sister or brother, daughter or son from ever receiving the devastating news that a loved one has been taken too soon by gun violence. Gun violence is an epidemic in the United States, which is why Debbie will fight for common-sense gun safety legislation. We must close the gun show loophole by requiring universal background checks, prevent those with a history of domestic violence or terrorism from purchasing a gun, and prevent firearms from falling in the hands of the mentally ill. Women As a mother, sister, and aunt it is Debbie’s priority to ensure women are paid the same as men for the same work; and especially women of color who particularly get the short end of the stick when it comes to equal pay. Debbie is committed to ensuring real on-the-ground equality for all women. Debbie will fight to end gender discrimination in the areas of education, employment, health care, and all other spheres. She will work to achieve equal pay for women, ensure paid maternity leave, pass child care legislation, and protect reproductive freedom. She will also pledge to always stand with Planned Parenthood. Tax Reform Debbie believes we need real tax reform—but not at the expense of hard-working families. The Republican tax plan raises taxes on millions of middle-class families and eliminates critical deductions we depend on in order to give big corporations a handout. As Debbie talks with families in FL-26, she hears over and over again that the opportunities to achieve the American Dream are disappearing for too many. That should be our focus, not new tax breaks for millionaires or for companies that ship jobs overseas. Debbie knows we must make it easier for people to make ends meet, not harder. [29] ” —Mucarsel-Powell for Congress [32]"}]