Far West

When former California State Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg's Senate term is up this year, he will join Greenberg Traurig's government practice.

Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board chair Kym Arnone wants the board to finish the municipal advisor rules and take more steps to improve transparency before the end what she says is the hardest job she has ever loved in a nearly 30-year muni career.

The Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority filed a lawsuit this week against their former bond counsel and financial advisor, alleging they were negligent when they advised that $219.49 million of bonds issued in 2006 would be tax exempt.

Maryland voters will decide whether to constitutionally prohibit lawmakers from diverting transportation-dedicated tax revenues to other purposes.

Hawaii plans to enter the market with a $1.1 billion general obligation sale in November, a week after voters select a new governor.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is proposing to establish limits on the gifts and non-cash benefits municipal advisors can provide in their professional capacities.

Seattle's City Light Department sold $265 million of revenue bonds in a competitive offering Wednesday for the city's light and power system.

California's drought has added a sense of urgency to a proposal for a $900 million seawater desalination project in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Most of the Californians interviewed in a recent Public Policy Institute of California survey said they would vote for the $7.5 billion state water bond measure.

Standard & Poor’s revised its outlook on Hawaii to stable from positive, affirming its AA rating ahead of plans to price $1.1 billion in debt.