Paul Burton

Standard & Poor's raised its unenhanced rating on the general obligation debt of East Providence, R.I., five notches from BB-plus to A, citing significant financial improvements.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett named former budget office spokesman Jay Pagni as press secretary.

Moody's revised its outlook to developing from negative on Harrisburg parking bonds, pending resolution of the proposed recovery plan in Pennsylvania's capital.

Moody's Investors Service revised its outlook on its A2 rating for Mount Sinai Hospital to negative from stable, reflecting "meaningful financial and integration risks" regarding its merger with Continuum Health Partners.

New York's MTA approved a credit for weekly and monthly customers of Metro-North Railroad's New Haven line, whose service has been disrupted since a ConEd feeder cable failed.

As Connecticut prepares to issue $575 million in general obligation bonds this week, debate simmers over how much bonding is appropriate for the state.

Rep. Glen Grell urges an overhaul of Pennsylvania's two statewide pension systems whose combined liability exceeds $45 billion that includes $9 billion of pension obligation bonds.

Synthetic fixed-rate debt exposure is less than 10% of overall debt at New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, finance manager Patrick McCoy said.

The disclosure that Harrisburg, Pa., must repay bond insurer Ambac about $30 million of additional interest "more than confirms the need" for recovery-plan scrutiny, city Controller Dan Miller said.

New York's MTA should use some of its unexpected $1.9 billion in revenue to mitigate fare and toll increases, said state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

But capital funding, and fare and toll hikes remain areas of concern

The Massachusetts Senate was debating the repeal of a new sales tax on software and computer services, although a $160 million budget gap loomed with passage.

New York State's inaugural 10-year capital plan needs more info about asset conditions and financing plans, said the Citizens Budget Commission watchdog agency.

The Massachusetts House approved the repeal of a technology tax, which now goes to the Senate. Lawmakers face a $161 million gap should the measure pass.

New York City sold about $1.022 billion of general obligation bonds on Wednesday and $356 million of retail orders over the two prior days, said a spokesman for city Comptroller John Liu.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord, a Democrat, took aim at "Tom Corbett and his misguided agenda" in announcing his candidacy for governor.

New York City will enter a partnership with national purchase-order repository SmartProcure in an effort to reduce procurement costs, according to Comptroller John Liu.

The Army Corps of Engineers approved Massachusetts' preferred route for the South Coast commuter rail project, for which funding is still a challenge.

Moody's Investors Service revised the general obligation rating of Providence, R.I., to stable from negative, citing the city's structural balance and a pension overhaul agreement.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board increased the number and percentage of minority- and women-owned firms that will participate in MTA bond deals.