Scott Sowers

Moody's Ratings cut the issuer rating for the District of Columbia to Aa1 with a negative outlook, which the city CFO blames on federal workforce reductions and weakness in the commercial real estate market.

As the municipal bond community rallies around protecting the tax-exempt status of munis, alternative viewpoints emerge for why it should be eliminated.

Congress has hit the pause on Washington, D.C.'s budget process as a framework for transforming the RFK Stadium site into a viable $3.2 billion NFL venue emerges including the possibility of tapping $856 million in public funds.

With the threat to tax exempt municipal bonds looming in a Congress searching for pay-fors, private activity bonds supporting hospitals and higher education are high on the list of potential first targets.

Housing advocates concerned about the fate of private activity bonds are working on strategies for getting PABs and tax-exempt munis off the table while Congress searches for ways to pay for tax cut extensions.

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.