Is Elon's Empire Crumbling?

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after July 23rd, it may be too late.

Maryland governor announces budget framework deal with taxes, cuts

BRIAN WITTE
March 20, 2025

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced an agreement on a state budget framework with the state's Democratic leadership Thursday, criticizing President Donald Trump's tariffs and dramatic downsizing of the federal government while announcing tax increases and cuts to address a $3.3 billion state deficit for the next fiscal year.

The tax increases include a new 3% tax on information technology services, as well as a new income tax bracket for the state's wealthiest residents

"We 've spoken to Marylanders at all income levels about this plan, and there is consensus that if a person is making over $750,000 a year, it is reasonable to ask them to give roughly $1,800 more to help us invest in the success of our state," Moore, a Democrat, said.

The plans also include tax increases on gambling and cannabis, as well as a new 1% tax on capital gains for people with incomes over $350,000.

Moore and other leading lawmakers criticized the Republican president frequently at a news conference at the state Capitol. The governor pointed out that the ratings agency Moody's recently noted that federal cuts pose a greater threat to Maryland than any other state.

"The president has launched a reckless trade war with our allies, including our largest trading partners, and those tariffs could mean over a $2 billion impact on our economy and directly harm our people," Moore said,

He added that Trump dealt a further blow to the state last week by announcing plans to cancel relocating a new FBI headquarters in Maryland.

Republicans said it was wrong to blame the president for the state's fiscal woes, because Maryland's budget deficit existed long before Trump returned to office in January.

"You didn't hear one bit of accountability from any of the Democratic leaders," Del. Jesse Pippy, a Republican who is the House minority whip, said. "You didn't. You heard them blame Trump for every single problem we have in the state, and they just raised our taxes at least a billion dollars."

But the governor emphasized that 94% of Marylanders "will either get a tax cut or see no change in their income taxes." However, he did not provide an estimated average tax cut for those seeing reductions, saying work was ongoing to determine those numbers.

Moore and other leading Democrats, who heavily control the state's legislature, described the budget plan as a much-needed modernization of the state's revenue streams.

"As our economy increasingly becomes digital, this revenue expansion acknowledges the growing role of IT in our daily lives and business operations and the use of technology to replace workers," Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, said. "It also acknowledges that many goods, such as software programs, are now sold as yearly or monthly services."

The new tax would apply to services like website building, as well as services that help people store information on the cloud, such as Amazon Web Services.

Ferguson said the new tax on capital gains will be used to invest in transportation and help add a new revenue stream to the budget, and he linked the new tax to Trump's plan for a tax cut for the wealthy.

"What we do know is that the Trump tax cuts that are focused on billionaires are likely to help those who have done the best, and so this is the right place for Maryland to look to have sustainable investment in our infrastructure and in our budget," Ferguson said.

The plan includes about $2.3 billion in cuts, about $500 million more than the governor included in his initial budget proposal in January. Del. Ben Barnes, a Democrat who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, noted that previous cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration have been restored.

Moore described the cuts as the most significant in 16 years, but few details about them were offered at the news conference, an omission sharply criticized by Republicans.

Del. Jason Buckel, a western Maryland Republican and the House minority leader, described it as "very disappointing, the incredible lack of detail."

"Basically all I took away from it was we're going to increase people's taxes," Buckel said. "We're making cuts. We can't tell you what the cuts are."

Lawmakers still have to pass a balanced budget before the end of the legislative session on April 7. The governor described the agreement on Thursday as a framework on its main components, though work remains in the coming weeks.

"This framework will inform the final budget and the final bill that goes from the House to the Senate, and I look forward to signing it when it makes it to my desk," Moore said.

Continue Reading...

Popular

Trump keeps saying the GOP mega bill will eliminate taxes on Social Security. It does not

WASHINGTON (AP) — President keeps saying that Republicans' mega legislation will eliminate taxes on federal benefits.

Cathie Wood's Alpha Surge: $250 Million Circle Windfall, Big AMD Buys

Cathie Wood, founder and CEO of ARK Invest, has recently been on a hot streak of successful and high-profile trades through her flagship ARK ETFs. 

This Coin Could Surge Like Bitcoin Did Back in 2013... - Ad

A new coin is emerging in the crypto world. And investing in it now could end up like Bitcoin or Ethereum during their first bull runs.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: 'Muslim Takeover' Threatens American Women

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has expressed her fears regarding what she believes to be the most significant threat to the freedom of American women.

Mystery Seller Behind $105 Million Plot Next to Jeff Bezos Estate Finally Revealed

A plot of land neighboring Jeff Bezos' property in Miami was sold for a staggering $105 million. The undeveloped lot was sold by German investor Mikhail Peleg.

The Missing Ingredient for Big Tech's $3T Recipe? - Ad

Big Tech doesn't build everything; they buy what's next. And only Emteq's tech offers real behavior insights for smart glasses, key to unlocking the $3T XR market. Their patented sensors track live facial muscle movements. With health-focused smart glasses in demand, only Emteq has this tech.

20 Surprising Reddit Facts To Celebrate Its Milestone Birthday

Here's a look at Reddit's best-kept secrets and odd historical footnotes as the platform turns 20.

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

Forget concrete. The new foundation for real estate success is digital, and Pacaso leads the way. Their tech unlocks a $1.3T real estate market. They've already earned $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history and reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

Outrage Mounts Over Trump's Appointment of 22-Year-Old to Terrorism Unit Amid Iran Crisis

In a move that has drawn widespread criticism, President Donald Trump has appointed 22-year-old Thomas Fugate to a critical terrorism-prevention role, amidst rising tensions with Iran.

How Senate Republicans want to change the tax breaks in Trump's big bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — House and Senate Republicans are taking slightly different approaches when it comes to the tax cuts that lawmakers are looking to include in their massive

FDA Submission Expected This Summer - Invest Before It Happens - Ad

This company is making heart disease easier to detect with AI. Their tech has officially been designated a "Breakthrough" by the FDA. You now have an opportunity to get in at a potential inflection point.

Netflix's Squid Game Finale Takes Over Seoul With Massive Parade, Star-Studded Fan Event

Netflix celebrated the finale of Squid Game with a parade and fan event in Seoul, featuring characters and emotional reflections from cast.

Back This Medical AI Tech - Ad

You don't often find healthcare tech company valued at $4M. HeartSciences is an exception. With $75M invested, including R&D, clinical trials, and product development, their patented AI software is approaching FDA submission, a potential major inflection point.

Occidental Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Surge In Monday Pre-Market: What's Going On?

Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE: OXY), Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron Corp (NYSE: CVX) climbed 1.95%, 1.53% and 1.31% during Monday pre-market trading session after oil prices have skyrocketed to their highest point since January, sparking concerns about potential supply disruptions.

After Diddy's conviction, here's where his business ventures stand

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has been in his federal sex trafficking trial, but that doesn't mean the once-celebrated music mogul will see his business empire restored.

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as July 23rd.

Quantum Stocks Surge And Stumble: Here's What Happened This Week

Quantum Computing announced a $200 million private placement, Microsoft's CEO said quantum computing could take scientific advancements to the next level and more from the week.

Russian Spy Chief And CIA Director Ratcliffe Agree To 'Call Any Time' Amid Tensions: Report

Russian spy chief Sergei Naryshkin and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, have reportedly agreed to have direct communication at any time.

Buffett's Next Big Investment... Is It This Gold Play? - Ad

Buffett's $325B cash pile is losing value fast - and one gold miner could be his next move. It trades at a 43% discount to its free cash flow, and fits his criteria to a T. With gold set to soar and valuations stretched, now's your chance to front-run Buffett before August 15.

Trump's Crypto Ventures, Draper And Cathie Wood's Bitcoin Predictions, MSTR Estimates, And More: This Week In Crypto

The past week in the world of cryptocurrency was nothing short of eventful. From legislative moves aimed at curbing alleged corruption in cryptocurrency ventures to bold predictions about Bitcoin’s dominance, the week was filled with intriguing developments. Here’s a quick recap of the top stories that made headlines.

The Unlikely Duo Rethinking Wearable Technology - Ad

Why did a surgeon and Snap exec team up? They saw the missing ingredient in the $84T wearables market: behavior. So they built Emteq and invented smart glasses sensors to track real-time expressions, unlocking insights into why we do things. With a $15M term sheet already secured, Emteq is what Big Tech's missing.

Iran's Top Diplomat To UN Says Uranium Enrichment To Continue: An 'Inalienable Right'

Iran reaffirms commitment to nuclear program despite US strikes. Ambassador cites Non-Proliferation Treaty as justification. Impact remains debated.

What to Stream: Ryan Coogler’s 'Sinners,' a Kesha album, 'SharkFest' and John Cena with Idris Elba

Kesha enjoying her freedom on her first new album since she left her old label and Ryan Coogler’s guts-spilling vampire film “Sinners,” are some of the new television, films, music and games near you.

A Historic Gold Announcement Is About to Rock Wall Street - Ad

The greatest investor of all time is about to validate what Garrett Goggin has been saying for months: Gold is entering a once-in-a-generation mania. Front-running Buffett has never been more urgent - and four tiny miners could be your ticket to 100X gains.

Here's how millions of people could lose health insurance if Trump's tax bill becomes law

WASHINGTON (AP) — Roughly 11.8 million adults and children will be at risk for losing health insurance if Republicans' domestic policy package becomes a law.

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after July 23rd, it may be too late.

PHOTO ESSAY: In rural Alaska, collecting driftwood saves time, money and brings jobs

GALENA, Alaska (AP) — As ice breaks on the Yukon River, Jake Pogrebinsky looks at the water from shore, searching for a large log floating downstream.

Apple Has the Potential To Crush Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, Says Ming-Chi Kuo, But The Tech Giant Has Been 'Surprisingly Slow'

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple has the potential to surpass Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, but notes the company's slow progress in this market could delay its dominance.

This Coin Could Surge Like Bitcoin Did Back in 2013... - Ad

A new coin is emerging in the crypto world. And investing in it now could end up like Bitcoin or Ethereum during their first bull runs.

Inside The Trump Family's $620 Million Crypto Empire

Since retaking the White House, Donald Trump's reported net worth has remained broadly stable, around $6.5 billion on Election Day to roughly $6.4 billion today.

Cash-Rich IonQ To Capture 20% Of Quantum Market By 2035

IonQ shares climb as investors rally behind its bold quantum growth strategy and long-term market potential.

The Missing Ingredient for Big Tech's $3T Recipe? - Ad

Big Tech doesn't build everything; they buy what's next. And only Emteq's tech offers real behavior insights for smart glasses, key to unlocking the $3T XR market. Their patented sensors track live facial muscle movements. With health-focused smart glasses in demand, only Emteq has this tech.

Senate Defends Trump's War Powers, Rejects Push For Congressional Approval For Further Action Against Iran

Senate rejects proposal to limit Trump's military powers against Iran. Vote largely split along party lines with only one Dem voting against.

FDA vaccine official restricted COVID vaccine approvals against the advice of agency staff

WASHINGTON (AP) — The working under Health Secretary recently of two COVID-19 vaccines, disregarding recommendations from government scientists, according to federal documents released Wednesday.

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

Forget concrete. The new foundation for real estate success is digital, and Pacaso leads the way. Their tech unlocks a $1.3T real estate market. They've already earned $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history and reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

This Isn't Your Father's BlackBerry, And Its Comeback Is Gaining Traction

BlackBerry (NYSE: BB) shares rise on better-than-expected Q1 results and raised fiscal guidance. Analysts increase price forecasts.

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright smartmoneytrading.net
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service