Scott Sowers is a reporter based in the Washington, D.C., Bureau where he covers ESG issues, cyber-crime, lobbying, and taxation. Prior to joining The Bond Buyer he freelanced for The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Atlantic writing about real estate. Other areas of expertise include architecture, design, energy, housing policy, automotive, and the utilities.
-
The effects of higher yields on Treasury bonds are cascading down into tax revenue levels that could raise the stakes for state and local governments facing higher borrowing costs.
August 31 -
Law firms, think tanks and advocacy groups are digesting the ROAD to Housing bill and offering strategies to municipalities about how to maximize the public finance benefits.
August 21 -
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority voted to move forward with plans for a $20 billion makeover of Dulles Airport, clarifying how the project will be financed.
August 20 -
The currently-paused surface transportation reauthorization in a recessed Congress contains the first nationwide fee on electric vehicles.
August 19 -
As the public backlash against data centers begins to influence politics around the beltway, industry supporters point to the effects of tax revenue generated at the local level.
August 18 -
Lobbyists and lawyers are both watching three pieces of legislation that would expand the use of private activity bonds in housing, transportation infrastructure, and student loans.
August 17 -
Counties play a unique role in the data center debate and are becoming more sophisticated in negotiating with the major players in the industry.
August 13 -
A new bill would increase the capacity of state and local housing finance agencies to issue tax-free municipal housing bonds by exempting them from the PAB cap.
August 12 -
As the level and delivery of infrastructure funding becomes increasingly uncertain and political, proponents of a national infrastructure bank are making their case.
August 11 -
States are taking closer looks and passing legislation on the tax breaks that typically spur data center placement as the backlash stiffens via changes in public finance policy.
August 10 -
While the threat of shifting more costs from the federal government looms in the background, the end of the fiscal year is revealing stabilized tax revenue for most states.
August 7 -
The White House's involvement in expanding Dulles International Airport lead to plans for a $22.5 billion bond sale, while questions remain about steep passenger fees that may be required.
August 5 -
Proposals for reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency are attracting attention from the ratings agencies.
August 4 -
As Virginia prepares for a key primary election on Tuesday, the controversy over tax exemptions and data center proliferation is spurring alerts from law firms.
August 3 -
Maryland has inked an $85 million deal to secure the rights to the Preakness Stakes by authorizing the Maryland Economic Development Corp. to issue revenue bonds to fund the sale.
July 31 -
The National Association of Bond Lawyers reacts to an IRS request for comments on a proposed change to section 148 in the tax code that regulates arbitrage and cash allocations with a resounding "no."
July 30 -
A new law in Virginia goes into effect as attorneys provide counsel about economic development authorities serving as conduit bond issuers for affordable housing communities.
July 29 -
The Save America Act remains at a chokepoint, pitting President Trump against Senate Majority Leader Thune, while counties weigh in against the measure.
July 28 -
The ongoing dispute between the states and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is heading to court as 25 states are suing the agency over charges that it's withholding grants based on immigration policies.
July 24 -
The rules governing the cap on state and local tax deductions have been changed in each Trump administration and greatly debated in the muni community as new research shows the cap may have boosted inflows into bonds.
July 23
