Bonds

Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., may be frontrunner for chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee should Republicans win control of the House in November, but Jason Smith, R-Mo., whose efforts in recent months mark him as a close second and Adrian Smith, R-Neb., trails just behind in a tight race to lead one of Congress’

A dozen major financial firms have been sued for at least $1.42 billion because of their work on Puerto Rico municipal bonds and interest rate swaps dating back to 2007. Puerto Rico’s government and the Oversight Board initiated the suit against Barclays Capital, BMO Capital Markets, Banc of America Securities; Citibank; Goldman Sachs Bank USA;

San Antonio Water System (SAWS) will head into next week’s sale of $245 million of junior lien revenue bonds with a rating upgrade from one agency and a revised positive outlook from another. The bonds, which Piper Sandler & Co. is scheduled to price Sept. 27, will fund a portion of the system’s 2022 and

The Senate is eyeing October to take up the fiscal 2023 national defense act, a bill the municipal market is watching closely for an amendment that imposes new disclosure requirements on issuers. Sen. Chuck Schumer said Tuesday the Senate would take up the National Defense Authorization Act after Oct. 3 but before midterm elections. Republicans

States need more federal flexibility and consistency to be able to deliver the transportation projects promised in the new infrastructure law, state transportation officials told the Senate Wednesday. “State DOTs are going to be delivering the largest capital programs we’ve ever done and so listening to the states and giving the states the flexibility to

Seven Midwest states with eyes on tapping into federal infrastructure funding are joining forces to promote the development of “clean” hydrogen technologies in the region to bolster their economies lower energy costs while reducing carbon-related emissions. Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin signed the memorandum of understanding this week creating the Midwestern Hydrogen

The failed endeavor to build the Carolina Panthers football franchise a new headquarters in York County, South Carolina, has resulted in a thorny legal battle over who is to blame. Construction on the planned $800 million mixed-used facility in Rock Hill, meant to include state-of-the-art training facilities, office space, millions in utility investments, and green

Municipals were mixed after the Federal Open Market Committee implemented a third straight 75 basis point rate hike as it continues to combat inflation, pushing the two-year U.S. Treasury above 4% while the 10-, 20- and 30-year made gains. Equities ended in the red. The FOMC raised the fed funds rate target 75 basis points

The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) should complete a master development plan before tapping proceeds from a 2021 bond issue, according to a limited review state audit released this week.  The quasi-governmental entity issued $150 million of bonds in December to finance an intermodal transportation center in Salt Lake City. The report by the Legislative

Massachusetts plans to bring $2.7 billion of taxable business-tax backed special obligation revenue bonds with a social designation, marking the largest environmental, social and governance deal to date in the municipal market. The deal is also one of the larger taxable deals in 2022 in a year that has seen a significant drop in taxable

Los Angeles International Airport received a $50 million grant from the federal infrastructure bill for terminal road improvements, among the largest dispersed from the $1 billion allocated to 85 airports nationally. The grants are the first allotment in a five-year, $5 billion airport terminal grant program funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Transportation

The Supreme Court decision in Carson v. Makin may render unconstitutional issuer statutes that prohibit the use of bond proceeds for religious purposes. The court ruled last month that if a state chooses to subsidize private education, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because of religious affiliation. The ruling could change the way some

Municipals were mixed to close out a quiet summer Friday session ahead of a larger new-issue calendar that sees several billion-dollar deals. Triple-A benchmark yields once again largely ignored a selloff in U.S. Treasuries after a robust jobs report indicated the Federal Reserve will likely hike interest rates another 75 basis points at its next

Puerto Rico’s economic activity index increased 0.5% in May from April and 3.3% from May 2021. , according to data released from the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico Thursday. Over the last six months the index has gone up four times from month to month, stayed the same once, and gone down once.  May was

Municipals were steady to firmer in secondary trading Thursday as a large airport revenue bond offering from the City and County of Denver, Colorado, and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority’s MTA deal took the focus. Municipals continued to ignore the movements of U.S. Treasuries, which saw yields rise for the second day, while equities

Calling climate change New York City’s biggest environmental threat, Mayor Eric Adams released a plan Thursday that aims to help the Big Apple prepare for extreme rainfall in the future. “While we continue to invest in resiliency and infrastructure projects to protect us for generations to come, the Rainfall Ready NYC action plan will help every New

Municipals rallied Wednesday, ignoring a selloff in U.S. Treasuries, after the Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes reiterated the Fed’s position it would raise rates 50 to 75 basis points at its July meeting to stave off inflation. Equities ended slightly up.. Municipals were in their own lane Wednesday and triple-A yields fell four to

Revenue from Oklahoma’s oil and gas production taxes reached a record high in fiscal 2022, topping $1.5 billion, the state treasurer reported on Wednesday. As prices for the commodities spiked, the taxes generated $1.53 billion, up nearly 103% in the fiscal year that ended June 30 compared to fiscal 2021.  “Inflationary forces are a significant

Municipal yields fell for the third session in a row following the flight-to-safety bid in U.S. Treasuries as recession concerns continue to grow. Equities were mixed. Triple-A benchmark yields were bumped three to six basis points Tuesday with the strongest moves out long. Falling yields over the past two weeks have been “a welcome sigh

Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court on June 30 squashed the state’s ambitious plan to use public private partnerships and tolling to repair or replace nine major bridges across the state. The state had already tapped Macquarie Infrastructure Developments LLC as private partner on the program. Judge Ellen Ceisler also called into question the constitutionality of the state’s