Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON - Sen. Ron Wyden has introduced a bill to create tax-credit bonds for transportation projects, hoping the program will navigate the political and economic realities that have challenged previous attempts at federal financing tools for state and local governments.

WASHINGTON - With lawmakers in Washington still deadlocked over a debt-ceiling solution, public finance attorneys are evaluating what the effects of a U.S. downgrade would be on the municipal bond market.

WASHINGTON - State and local groups on Monday urged congressional leaders and the Obama administration to quickly reach a long-term solution to the debt-limit crisis, warning it has stalled key legislation.

WASHINGTON - The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board Thursday warned that the variable-rate demand obligation market "may be under pressure" over the next year and a half as bank credit facilities expire.

The composite index of leading economic indicators increased 0.3% in June, the Conference Board reported Friday.

The composite index of leading economic indicators increased 0.3% in June, the Conference Board reported Friday.

The Vermont Student Loan Assistance Corp., which has been in discussions with the Internal Revenue Service to settle a tax law dispute over $165 million of auction-rate securities it sold in 1998, disclosed that the IRS is expanding its audit to include more of the issuer’s ARS.

WASHINGTON - Private-activity bond issuance rose in 2010 for the first time in three years because of a big jump in bonds spurred by a two-year housing recovery program that was enacted during the financial crisis, according to an annual survey and market participants.

WASHINGTON — Industrial production rose 0.2% in June, the first increase in three months, the Federal Reserve reported Friday.

WASHINGTON - Industrial production increased 0.2% in June, the first rise in three months, the Federal Reserve reported Friday.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales edged up 0.1% in June as auto sales bounced back, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Retail sales edged up 0.1% in June as auto sales bounced back, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service said Wednesday that only about 20% of governmental issuers that responded to a survey showed they have written procedures or some system to make sure they comply with tax laws and rules after their bonds are issued.

WASHINGTON - The federal government reported a $43.1 billion deficit in June, the Treasury Department said Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit jumped by $6.6 billion to $50.2 billion in May, the largest deficit since October 2008, as oil costs increased and exports shrank, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Rep. John F. Tierney has introduced tax reform legislation that would require all tax-exempt municipal bonds to be issued as direct-pay subsidy bonds at a 28% subsidy rate after this year. The bill is part of an effort to eliminate certain tax expenditures and sway the deficit-reduction negotiations driving the legislative agenda.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. trade deficit jumped by $6.6 billion to $50.2 billion in May, the largest deficit since October 2008, as oil costs increased and exports shrank, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Revenues in at least 28 states will exceed their fiscal 2011 budget forecasts as personal income and corporate taxes rebound, the Center on Budget Policies and Priorities said Monday.

A bill recently introduced in the House would create new tax-credit bonds to help state and local governments finance charging stations for plug-in electric cars.

The Internal Revenue Service closed a routine audit without changing the tax-exempt status of $147.5 million of auction-rate securities sold by the New Mexico Hospital Equipment Loan Council in May 2004.