Scott Sowers

Congress leaves town for a two-week recess without settling a financial dispute with the District of Columbia over which budget they are allowed to use as the mayor's financial team announces plans to exercise a 2009 law that will boost a supplemental budget by 6%.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee announced a new bill that would restore the power of applying tariffs back to Congress amidst accusations of market manipulation and political ineptitude by the Trump administration.

Some congressional Republicans are concerned taxpayers aren't getting a good return on their investment in transit, as lawmakers gear up for work on a new transportation bill.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act is reintroduced in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support to increase the development of affordable housing by leveraging private activity bonds and loosening restriction on Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Airport executives pushed lawmakers for streamlined funding, a boost in the passenger facility charge, and preserving tax-exempt bonds.

Washington, D.C.'s ability to spend the money in its approved budget remains in doubt as a congressional recess looms, though President Trump signaled support.

The immediate effect of tariffs is expected to manifest in the country's ports, which was the only sector of infrastructure to earn a "B" grade in the ASCE's Report Card.

As the market absorbs the effects of the tariff rollout industry analysts are predicting a heavy dose of uncertainty in several key sectors of the municipal bond market.

Seventeen states now allow or are considering legislation that allows reserve funds to be invested into cryptocurrency while sixteen are moving towards allowing crypto investments in their pension funds.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board is seeking input from the public about its preliminary views on clarifying changes to disclosure regulations related to state and local governments under severe financial stress and facing probable dissolution.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is delaying submitting her 2026 budget while unresolved budget cuts passed by the House in the continuing resolution and then amended by the Senate to repair the damage remain in limbo.

As muni advocates fight for the preservation of tax exemption, foreign investors are using the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card as evidence that increased privatization of assets is needed to improve the grades.

The effects of infrastructure spending and the need for more are coming into focus as the municipal bond community is dealing with a Congressional threat to eliminate the tax-exempt status of munis. 

The American Society of Civil Engineers released its infrastructure report card, which shows that billions spent on infrastructure is having overall positive effects on the condition of the nation's bridges, highways, and ports.

As lobbying efforts happen behind the scenes in the House, the ongoing battle over the Washington, D.C., budget is attracting attention from the market and the credit rating agencies who are hedging their bets on a successful outcome.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is pressing public transit agencies to beef up their commuter safety protocols or lose federal funding while the recently passed continuing resolution raises appropriation levels for the sector by less than a half percent.

A $1.1 billion dollar cut to the Washington, D.C., budget by way of Congressional action is on hold thanks to intensive lobbying and an intervention by the Senate as the city vows to meet its financial obligations.

The Department of Transportation is signaling moves away from Biden-era infrastructure spending tied to environmental concerns and heading back to more formula funding, which is welcome news for transportation heads.

The new continuing resolution passed in the House omits key language that allows Washington to implement its approved budget, which is threatening to cancel planned capital projects.

Muni advocates are stepping up pressure on Congress to take the elimination of municipal bond tax exemption off the menu by exploring alternatives and providing numbers showing how short term gains will become long term losses.