Scott Sowers

The House rallied to pass a minibus of appropriations bills ahead of the Jan 30 deadline including most of what the public transit sector wanted.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore unveiled his $70.8 billion budget proposal that is designed to close a $1.5 billion gap via cuts, fund transfers and swaps of bonds for cash.

Native American Tribes are culling through new rules from the U.S. Treasury Department that could boost economic development.

Counties are onboard with proposed FEMA reform that's currently gaining no traction in the Senate as smaller locales that don't issue bonds struggle with delayed disaster relief.

A squabble between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the state of Maryland appears to be moving towards a resolution which effects two major bridges in the Washington D.C. – Baltimore region.

As Congress hammers away on a surface transportation bill, counties are fighting for a seat at the table while reckoning with dwindling gas tax revenues.

Public pensions have notched some improvements as the uncertainty surrounding state budgets and the effects of tariffs raise concerns.

Maryland is currently battling federal job losses and string of financial challenges but is starting the new year with a new triple-A rating on its general obligation bonds complete with a stable outlook.

Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger begins assembling her finance team by keeping the state's treasurer in place and naming Delegate Mark D. Sickles to serve as Virginia's next Secretary of Finance.

Attorneys and lawmakers are working through questions from clients and water authorities about finalized drinking water rules by the EPA regarding "forever chemicals."

The balance of power in the House of Representatives continues to shift months before the midterms as Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md. who sits on the House Appropriations Committee announces he will not seek re-election this fall.

The National Association of State Treasurers officially announced new leadership for 2026, including new president Michigan State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks.

Kutak Rock is promoting several members of their public finance and tax teams as part of a move that sees 28 attorneys move into partnership roles in eleven offices.

Some industry observers are expecting a continuing rise in public private partnerships as the total value of infrastructure assets under management is up.

Advocates for improving inland port infrastructure in the House and Senate are pushing bipartisan bills aimed at funneling more dollars from the Port Infrastructure Development Program to facilities on the Great Lakes as opposed to East and West coasts.

The loss of federal jobs combined with delays in accessing employment data are contributing to flat revenue estimates for the Washington, D.C., government.

An election year for Congress adds a deadline clock to questions about budget reconciliation, tax policy, and politics while bond issuers ponder challenges and opportunities.

State tax policy is playing a role in the location of data centers which have turned into a lightning rod attracting debt financing, local opposition, and federal involvement.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has issued an end of the year Statement which addresses inconsistencies in the financial reporting and definition of an accounting wormhole.

In a move cheered by public power companies, the House passed a bill that would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority to keep power plants open if their closure threatens reliability.