Why Is a $116B Mining Giant Backing a $10M Firm?

Rio Tinto rarely makes early-stage bets. Yet one small N. American firm earned its trust with projects in lithium, uranium, and titanium - all vital to U.S. defense and energy independence.

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

Robert A.M. Stern, noted American architect, dies at 86

Acclaimed architect Robert A.M. Stern, a prominent figure in American architecture who designed notable museums, libraries and residences, died Thursday, according to a statement from the firm he founded. He was 86.

Cathie Wood Dumps $11.6 Million Worth Of Tesla Stock: Here Is What Ark Purchased Instead

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), Coinbase Global Inc.

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account? - Ad

A former hedge fund manager is now sharing his "Skim Codes" with regular people. They're not stocks. They're not crypto. They're 18-character codes designed to profit from recent market conditions. All you have to do is punch them into an ordinary brokerage account. 84% of these codes have given people the chance to generate cash payouts so far... and his next code is going out any day now.

These 8 Democrats voted with Republicans on the government shutdown deal. Here's how they explain it

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic senators — eight in total — faced almost instant blowback from members of their own party as to allow the Senate to move forward on that would reopen the government.

Direct Digital Stock Drops 14% After Hours — What's Behind The Slide?

Direct Digital Holdings shares fell after-hours following a settlement with Continuation Capital.

"Tech Prophet" Who Predicted the iPhone Now Predicts... - Ad

George Gilder - who predicted the iPhone 17 years early and gave Reagan the first microchip - is making his boldest call yet. He says an American nanotech "super-convergence" could mint more millionaires than any event in recent memory. He's found 3 stocks set to benefit the most.

These are the 37 donors helping pay for Trump's $300 million White House ballroom

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says his $300 million White House ballroom will be paid for “100% by me and some friends of mine.”

Are Markets Open On Thanksgiving? Here's What's Open And What's Closed On November 27

Find out what's open and closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday 2025. Check hours for banks, USPS, FedEx, and stores in our holiday guide.

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call - Ad

Weiss expert Sean Brodrick went out on a limb last year and declared a historic event would send the yellow metal to $3,150. People laughed at him at the time, but he was off by just two days. Now, Sean has a shocking new prediction for gold ... and reveals a little-known way to get ahead of this bull market.

JPMorgan Forecasts Bitcoin Bottom, Anticipates $28.3 Trillion Challenge To Gold By 2026

Analysts at JPMorgan have pinpointed the lowest point of the ongoing Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price fall and also projected a substantial chall

Veterans Day: What's open, what's closed

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Veterans Day holiday began more than a century ago, albeit under a different name, as a celebration of the end of World War I. Over time its name and purpose evolved into a day of recognition for of as well as those currently serving in uniform.

85% Off Proven Crypto Timing Model - This Weekend Only! - Ad

Juan Villaverde's crypto timing model has called every major market turn since 2012. It's now signaling the next big move, and he believes these coins could have big upside. With the market at a critical moment, you can access his latest signals this weekend for just $19.

What's Going On With Surf Air Mobility Stock Monday?

Surf Air Mobility raises $26M equity and partners with Palantir to advance SurfOS software, expand engineering.

Gold Is Being Reintroduced Into the Monetary System - Ad

While the media focuses on political scandals, inflation and coming up with ridiculous acronyms "TACO"... Smart money is tracking a far bigger shift: a gold revaluation is quietly underway. Garrett Goggin, CFA, says this could trigger 100X moves in select miners - and he's identified four with the biggest upside.

Wendy's to close hundreds of US stores in bid to halt falling profit

Wendy’s plans to close hundreds U.S. restaurants over the next few months in an effort to boost its profit.

Cathie Wood Bets Big On These Stocks As Bitcoin, Ethereum Crash —Dumps Instagram Rival

On Tuesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades, notably increasing its holdings in Bullish (NYSE:BLSH), Coinbase Glo

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 January 29, it may be too late.

Donald Trump Fueled Bitcoin's Rise Beyond $100,000 — Can BTC Survive His 2028 Exit?

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) may face its biggest political stress test yet in 2028 when President Donald Trump leaves office and the pro-crypto admin

California revokes 17,000 driver's licenses. But the state disputes it is over immigration concerns

California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses given to immigrants after the Trump administration raised concerns about people in the country illegally receiving licenses to drive a semitruck or a bus. But Gov. Gavin Newsom said that isn't the reason.

Global Demand for Defense Metals Is Surging 7X - Ad

Lithium, uranium and titanium are at the center of a global race. Nations are scrambling to secure them for fighter jets, EVs, and reactors. One N. American project could help fill the West's critical-minerals gap.

Trump administration moves to loosen restrictions it once supported on a harmful pollutant

WASHINGTON (AP) — Near the end of his first term, President Donald Trump signed into law a bill that and air conditioners. The bipartisan measure brought environmentalists and major business groups into rare alignment on the contentious issue of climate change and won praise across the political spectrum.

Cipher Mining Stock Pops As JPMorgan Moves To Overweight

Cipher Mining shares are rising Monday after JPMorgan upgraded the stock to Overweight and raised its price target to $18.

Elon's Optimus to Mint New "Musk Millionaires" as Soon as Jan 26? - Ad

Elon Musk may be set to create more "Musk Millionaires" as soon as January 26... Because on that day, he's expected to officially launch his Optimus robot... An AI-powered robot that Elon himself says will be capable of "doing anything bar nothing". Now, it's important to point out that Elon hasn't released it to the public yet... But ahead of the launch, one Silicon Valley insider has identified a "backdoor way" for any American to invest in Optimus with a regular brokerage account...

Investigators look into 'repeating bell' heard during takeoff of UPS cargo plane that crashed

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A repeating bell sounded in the cockpit for 25 seconds as pilots tried to control a UPS cargo plane that caught fire, had an engine fall off and this week in Louisville, Kentucky, a National Transportation Safety Board member said Friday.

Lebanon's most wanted drug trafficker taken into custody, authorities say

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon's most wanted drug trafficker was arrested Thursday after years on the run, authorities said.

Trump Signs Law to Launch Dollar 2.0 - Ad

Trump just signed law S.1582, unleashing the biggest money shift in 100+ years. For the first time since 1913, private firms - not the Fed - can mint a "Dollar 2.0." Treasury says it could drain $6.6T from banks and pay 10X current savings rates. Early investors in minting firms could see 40X returns by 2032.

Cameron Winklevoss Digs Up News Report From 2013 To Make A Point About Bitcoin: 'You Will Miss Out On The World's Greatest Opportunities...'

Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss took potshots Sunday at the British daily newspaper Financial Times for its 12-year-old article that predicted Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) would become the next “bubble.”

Furor over editing of Trump speech sparks 'existential crisis' at the BBC

LONDON (AP) — The of two top bosses over the editing of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump dealt a huge blow to the broadcaster, which is revered by some in Britain as a national treasure but derided by others as outdated and left-leaning.

Why Is a $116B Mining Giant Backing a $10M Firm? - Ad

Rio Tinto rarely makes early-stage bets. Yet one small N. American firm earned its trust with projects in lithium, uranium, and titanium - all vital to U.S. defense and energy independence.

First Trust Launches Critical Metals ETF As Demand For Clean Energy, EV Materials Heats Up

First Trust Advisors debuts its 300th ETF, giving investors exposure to companies powering the clean energy and tech revolution through essential metals.

Trump Barred From Deploying Oregon National Guard To Portland, Judge Cites State Sovereignty

A federal judge handed down a decisive ruling on Friday, blocking Trump's attempt to send Oregon's National Guard to Portland.

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account? - Ad

A former hedge fund manager is now sharing his "Skim Codes" with regular people. They're not stocks. They're not crypto. They're 18-character codes designed to profit from recent market conditions. All you have to do is punch them into an ordinary brokerage account. 84% of these codes have given people the chance to generate cash payouts so far... and his next code is going out any day now.

Bill.Com Scales Payments Footprint With 33 Million Transactions

Bill Holdings, Inc. (BILL) reports Q1 fiscal 2026 results, beating analyst estimates with adjusted EPS of 61c and revenue of $395.74M.

"Tech Prophet" Who Predicted the iPhone Now Predicts... - Ad

George Gilder - who predicted the iPhone 17 years early and gave Reagan the first microchip - is making his boldest call yet. He says an American nanotech "super-convergence" could mint more millionaires than any event in recent memory. He's found 3 stocks set to benefit the most.

Lucid Group (LCID) Stock Down As Q3 Revenue Misses, Key Engineer Departs

Lucid Group shares continued their slide Friday afternoon, following the company's third-quarter 2025 results released Wednesday, which missed analyst expectations.

Nvidia, Dell, Coinbase, Gorilla Technology And Archer Aviation: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

U.S. stocks closed lower on Monday, with the Dow slipping 1.2% to 46,590.24, the S&P 500 easing 0.92% to 6,672.41, and the Nasdaq dipping 0.84% to 22,708.07. These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors through the day:

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call - Ad

Weiss expert Sean Brodrick went out on a limb last year and declared a historic event would send the yellow metal to $3,150. People laughed at him at the time, but he was off by just two days. Now, Sean has a shocking new prediction for gold ... and reveals a little-known way to get ahead of this bull market.

Brazilian environmentalist gets funded by DiCaprio after false forest fire accusation by Bolsonaro

SAO PAULO (AP) — Being falsely accused of setting fire in with funds from an Oscar-winning actor eventually became a blessing in disguise for Caetano Scannavino, the founder of a nonprofit organization in the heart of the rainforest.

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