Far West

Moody's Investors Service on Oct. 13 downgraded Long Beach, Calif. Airport Enterprise to A3 from A2 and revised the outlook to stable from negative affecting $117.5 million in outstanding senior airport enterprise revenue bonds.

Washington is planning to sell $765 million of general obligation bonds in a refunding deal on Wednesday.

Fitch Ratings upgraded Rady Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego to AA-minus from A-plus.

The new Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last month is a credit positive for California's local governments, says Moody's Investors Service.

Other Post Employment Benefit liabilities, particularly retiree healthcare, could overtake pension liabilities as an issue for municipalities and investors,

At The Bond Buyer's California Public Finance Conference, Schiff Hardin's Rick Frimmer discussed the implications of recent developments in municipal bankruptcy.

The evolving understanding of climate change poses challenges in evaluating and disclosing municipal securities risk, said panelists at The Bond Buyer's California Public Finance Conference.

The market is expected to warmly receive the California State Public Works Board's $254 million lease revenue bond deal.

If pension obligations are impaired in the Stockton, Calif. bankruptcy case, state lawmakers could respond by closing the door to bankruptcy for California municipalities, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer predicted.

Former Financial Industry Regulatory Authority vice chairman Stephen Luparello received $5.34 million of total compensation in 2012 — the highest of any of the individuals in The Bond Buyer's annual survey of the compensation levels at 21 industry, self-regulatory, state and local, and muni related groups.