Paul Burton is the Northeast Regional Editor for The Bond Buyer. His major coverage has included New York City and MTA finances; the Harrisburg, Pa., debt crisis; the 38 Studios bond financing fiasco in Rhode Island; and unfunded pension liability. Paul hosts podcasts and videos and has moderated at Bond Buyer conferences. Previously, Paul was senior editor and copy chief at M&A-oriented financial media company The Deal LLC. His award-winning career has spanned financial, sports and political journalism. A Boston native, Paul is the author of the book “Tales from the Newsrooms.” He is a frequent public speaker and has appeared as an expert on municipal debt on radio and television shows, including former CBS News White House correspondent Sharyl Attkisson’s public-affairs program, “Full Measure.”
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PennsylvaniaUnfunded pension liability is on the back burner in Pennsylvania's primary while business consultant and actuary Richard Dreyfuss joins others warning about a problem that has bond rating agencies on the alert.
May 15 -
Debate among Rhode Island politicians percolates over payment of 38 Studios debt, and a consulting firm hired to explore the fallout of nonpayment in the bond market warned of negative snowballing should the state not pay.
May 14 - Rhode Island
Rhode Island's recent $78.7 million general obligation bond refinancing will save the state $6.7 million over the life of the issue, which matures in 2025, according to General Treasurer Gina Raimondo.
May 13 - New York
Mayor Bill de Blasio's 10-year plan to build and preserve so-called affordable housing is credit neutral for New York City, according to Moody's.
May 13 -
MassachusettsCost containment is vital to pension fund management, according Massachusetts Pension Reserves Management Board executive director Michael Trotsky.
May 13 -
Standard & Poor's put Rhode Island's GO bonds on credit watch negative and threatened a possible multiple-notch downgrade should the state default on 38 Studios debt.
May 12 - New York
New York City's most recent budget plan is credit negative, said Moody's Investors Service, which cited the effect of the proposed contract settlement with teachers on out-year budget gaps.
May 12 -
Municipal finance advisory firm PFM Group will sponsor a seminar on financial planning in Boston for higher education business officers.
May 12 -
Bond rating agencies could lower Rhode Island to junk if it misses 38 Studios moral obligation payments, said a report commissioned by a state agency.
May 9 - Pennsylvania
Bond rating agencies are poised to downgrade Pennsylvania again based on unfunded pension liability even if Gov. Tom Corbett's proposals pass, pension expert Richard Dreyfuss said.
May 7 - New York
Analysts eye with skepticism the pros and cons of the proposed nine-year agreement between New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and the teachers union.
May 6 -
Rhode Island Secretary of State Ralph Mollis has begun to probe possible violations of lobbying rules involving Curt Schilling's 38 Studios video-game company.
May 6 - Connecticut
Connecticut lawmakers worked over the weekend and burned midnight oil before passing a $19 billion budget for fiscal 2014-15 that failed to end partisan sniping.
May 5 - New York
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called for 200,000 units of affordable housing over 10 years, funded in part with $1 billion from the city's pension funds and 501(c)(3) bonds to finance middle-income housing.
May 5 - New York
The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research launched a public pension calculator tool as part of its PublicSectorInc.org project.
May 2 - Pennsylvania
More asset sales to offset pension liability will occur nationally, Allentown, Pa., Mayor Ed Pwlowski said at The Bond Buyer's municipal distress conference in Baltimore.
May 2 -
MarylandStaring at an estimated $745 million shortfall over 10 years, Baltimore charted a 10-year financial plan that created a buzz in the capital markets.
May 2 -
MarylandEnding the tax exemption for municipal bonds would seriously impair the ability of municipal issuers to fix infrastructure, according to Maryland's treasurer.
May 1 -
Patrick A. Nowakowski, the executive director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, will be the next president of Long Island Rail Road, the MTA announced.
April 30 - New York
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer will host the first hearing of his new Hurricane Sandy oversight unit at 7 p.m. April 30 at The BayHouse in Breezy Point, on the Rockaway Peninsula of Queens borough.
April 29
