Biden Criticizes Republicans for Favoring Tax Evaders and Cryptocurrency Traders

Updated: 21 June 2023

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Following his participation in the G7 forum in Japan, President Joe Biden criticized Republican lawmakers, accusing them of favoring wealthy tax evaders and cryptocurrency traders.

These comments were made in ongoing negotiations between the administration and Republicans to complete a new budget. The stakes are high, as a failure to agree might cause a default on debt payments on June 1.

Biden Calls for Bipartisan Cooperation and Criticizes Republican Priorities in Budget Negotiations

The G7 forum serves as a platform for political discussions and negotiations among seven prominent nations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the closing press conference, President Biden unveiled his latest proposed budget, which aims to reduce spending by over a trillion dollars. This proposal builds upon the administration’s previous plan to decrease the deficit by nearly $3 trillion through spending cuts and generating additional revenue.

Before departing for the trip, Biden met with congressional leaders from both parties and emphasized the need for a bipartisan agreement to move forward. He asserted he had fulfilled his part and now expects the other side to abandon their extreme positions, as some of their proposals are deemed unacceptable.

Biden then contrasted the priorities favored by Republicans with those supported by Democrats, presenting a series of this-versus-that scenarios. He clarified he would not endorse a deal that shields wealthy tax evaders and crypto traders at the expense of jeopardizing food help for nearly 1 million Americans.

During his address, Biden highlighted other unacceptable trade-offs, including $30 billion in tax breaks for the oil industry and $200 billion in “excess payments” for the pharmaceutical industry. Instead of prioritizing these measures, he emphasized the need to preserve Medicaid, protect the jobs of 100,000 school teachers, and support 30,000 law enforcement officers.

Bipartisan Agreement on Digital Asset Rules and Crypto Mining Tax

Biden stated firmly that Republicans must acknowledge that a bipartisan agreement cannot be reached solely on their partisan terms. His comments echoed a series of Twitter posts earlier this month, where he pointed out that “MAGA House Republicans” support tax loopholes benefiting wealthy crypto investors while opposing food safety inspections.

President Biden’s $6.9 billion budget plan emphasizes the modernization of rules for digital assets. This includes applying wash sale rules and addressing related party transactions to ensure that crypto assets follow the same regulations as traditional investments. Additionally, the White House advocates for a 30% excise tax on electricity costs associated with cryptocurrency mining. However, some lawmakers are opposing this proposal, considering it unworkable.

Regulatory Challenges in U.S. Cryptocurrency Industry

The Biden administration is acting against the cryptocurrency industry through “Operation Choke Point 2.0.” Crypto businesses like Bittrex, Coinbase, Tron, and Binance face scrutiny from government organizations like the SEC and CFTC.

Critics within the cryptocurrency community argue that the government’s enforcement actions are excessive and that regulations for web3-related assets are unclear or inappropriate. They believe regulators should work closely with the industry to develop new rules for this emerging form of value exchange.

The White House has accused crypto investors of under-reporting taxes and aims to recover $24 billion by amending tax laws to treat crypto assets like stocks and securities.

Some members of the crypto community, like Peter Conradi, have urged President Biden to reconsider this, claiming that unclear regulatory guidelines have caused businesses to move abroad, hire lawyers, and disrupt deals, potentially harming the market.

Gary Gensler, the chair of the SEC, has intensified his campaign against crypto firms accused of selling unregistered securities. However, there are dissenting opinions within the SEC itself.

Republican senators oppose the idea of a U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suggesting it could be used for imposing “Woke Politics.” The White House supports a 30% excise tax on the energy cryptocurrency miners consume.