Sen Lummis accuses President Biden of favoritism with proposed crypto mining tax
Source: Sen. Cynthia Lummis’ websiteUS Senator Cynthia Lummis stated in a tweet on Thursday that the Biden administration is selecting “winners and losers” in a proposal to tax cryptocurrency miners.
Lummis, a Republican from Wyoming, referred to Biden’s proposed 30% tax as a “blatant attempt by the administration to pick winners and losers.” She added that she will not let President Biden tax the digital asset industry out of existence.
Lummis opposed the tax proposal last week at the Bitcoin 2023 conference in Miami. She told the crowd that the tax “isn’t going to happen.”
Lummis also tweeted on Friday about the conference, stating that “America must welcome innovation and digital assets are the future of financial innovation.”
Unpacking the tax
The Biden Administration proposed what is dubbed the Digital Asset Mining Energy excise tax, or DAME, in its budget for fiscal year 2024 in March.
Under that proposal, firms would contend with a tax equal to 30% of the cost of the electricity used.
The tax would be implemented next year and phased in gradually over a period of three years at a rate of 10% a year to then reach the target 30% rate by the end of 2026, according to previous blockchain reporting.
Bill loading
Lummis, along with Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, has said that the Responsible Innovation Act will be reintroduced in the next month, with some changes including adding in more customer protections.
The bill, which takes a comprehensive approach to regulating crypto, was introduced last year.
The bipartisan pair is working with House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick T. McHenry, R-N.C., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif., on potentially breaking the bill apart into different committees to get it passed, Lummis said at the conference last week.
“What we’re apt to see is for the House to move a stablecoin bill first, then you’ll probably see the introduction of Lummis Gillibrand in the Senate, which will remain comprehensive,” Lummis said at the bitcoin conference.
Lummis clarified when asked whether she was waiting to introduce her bill until the stablecoin bill is worked through the House.
“We are not,” Lummis said.
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