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.”
-
PennsylvaniaPittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto inherits a city on the upswing, but wants it to remain under state oversight while he works out a long-term financial plan.
February 5 -
PennsylvaniaAllentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski withdrew from the Pennsylvania governor's race and backed state treasurer and fellow Democrat Rob McCord.
February 4 -
PennsylvaniaGov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday proposed a $29.4 billion budget for Pennsylvania that included a renewed call to tweak the pension system for state employees.
February 4 -
Contingent liabilities for nonessential, noncore enterprises pose huge credit risk for some local governments, Moody's said in a report that cited Harrisburg.
February 3 - Rhode Island
Moody's Investors Service upgraded North Providence, R.I.'s general obligation bond rating to A3 from Baa1, affecting $25.4 million in debt.
February 3 -
PennsylvaniaNew Mayor Bill Peduto wants Pittsburgh to firm up a long-term program of payments in lieu of taxes with the many nonprofit organizations while staying in Pennsylvania's Act 47 program for cities in fiscal distress.
January 31 -
Harrisburg, Pa., officials seek $2 million in the municipal budget to issue tax and revenue anticipation notes, which would mark a return to the debt markets.
January 31 - Connecticut
Connecticut's two largest pension funds generated investment returns exceeding 14% in 2013, Treasurer Denise Nappier announced.
January 31 -
New YorkNew York City and its labor unions should hash out contracts soon to preserve the city's double-A bond ratings, said city Comptroller Scott Stringer.
January 31 - New York
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer called for an overhaul of pension fund oversight, including a ban on private placement agents across all asset classes.
January 30 -
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority awarded a $23.9 million contract to repair three bridges spanning the Merrimack River in Haverhill.
January 29 -
Former New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate John Liu is teaching public policy and municipal finance at Baruch College.
January 29 - New York
The New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority sold about $351 million of second resolution, fixed-rate, tax-exempt new money bonds.
January 29 -
The chairman of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority acknowledged Wednesday the possibility of a Long Island Rail Road strike in the summer.
January 29 -
The lawyer representing Rhode Island in its suit against 38 Studios told state lawmakers that legislation would enhance the prospects of a settlement.
January 29 - Rhode Island
Clay Pell, the grandson of the late U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, is the latest Rhode Island gubernatorial candidate in an open-seat race.
January 28 - Massachusetts
Standard & Poor's raised its general obligation rating for Springfield, Mass., to AA-minus from A, with a stable outlook.
January 28 -
Remarketing $700 million of variable-rate debt last year has helped New York's MTA position itself in a volatile market, finance director Patrick McCoy said.
January 28 -
MassachusettsMassachusetts will advance its timetable by four years to 2036 for fully funding its pension system, under the budget Gov. Deval Patrick's administration has proposed.
January 28 -
New YorkNew York Mayor Bill de Blasio implored state lawmakers to approve his universal pre-kindergarten proposal through a tax on the city's wealthiest citizens.
January 27
