- Mark Cuban called Kamala Harris “pro-business” in an interview on Thursday.
- He said that he talks to her team regularly and told them to “put my name in for the SEC.”
- Cuban praised Harris’ desire to lower Biden’s proposed capital gains tax, from nearly 40% to 28%.
Mark Cuban, the billionaire investor and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, volunteered himself for a key position in Kamala Harris’ administration, should she defeat Donald Trump in November.
While speaking on CNBC’s show ‘Squawk Box’ on Thursday, Cuban praised the Harris campaign for its open, consistent communication with business leaders. He said he talks to her team between three and four times each week and added that, compared to prior administrations, hers has been the “most open.”
In fact, Cuban offered to join the team himself. When asked whom Harris should appoint to key positions, like chairs of the Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission, Cuban wasn't shy.
"I told her team, look, put my name in for the SEC. It needs to change," he said.
Cuban stuck by the proposal when Business Insider asked him about it.
"It's something I could do to have an impact," he said.
Cuban is not alone in wanting to reform the SEC. Many business and tech leaders have been frustrated with the Biden administration's appointments, in particular Lina Khan and Gary Gensler, who lead the FTC and SEC respectively. Khan has been aggressive in reigning in monopoly power and corporate mergers, while Gensler has increased regulation over crypto.
When Squawk Box host Andrew Ross Sorkin said that many business leaders criticize Biden for failing to surround himself with anyone from the private sector, Cuban agreed. But he said he's confident that Harris is more "pro-business" than her current boss.
"She's talked more about entrepreneurs and helping them have access to investment than any president I've ever heard," he said.
Cuban praised Harris' recent proposal to scale back Biden's desired capital gains tax — he wants the rate to be 39.6%, whereas she now publicly supports a rate of 28%. The long-term capital gains tax is collected when an investor sells an investment — or, in other words, realizes gains. He also celebrated her proposal with a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Harris believes that a slightly lower rate would spur investors to pour more money into startups, CNN reported.
"She's going to the center 100%," Cuban said.