Far West

The 100 largest public-employee retirement systems had $2.8 trillion in holdings and investments in the third quarter of 2012, a 2.6% increase from the same quarter last year and the highest level since the second quarter of 2008, according to a Census Bureau report.

House Speaker John Boehner's "Plan B" backup proposal to prevent some tax rate increases would make permanent two muni bond provisions that were originally enacted under the 2001 and 2003 Bush-era tax cuts.

Airports, ports, and unregulated power companies are at risk due to the impending fiscal cliff, while toll roads and public power utilities are insulated from the worst danger, according to a Moody's Investors Service report released Wednesday.

An Internal Revenue Service official has told Rep. Dennis Kucinich that Treasury Department officials cannot talk with him about the Build America Bonds used to finance the coal-fired Prairie State Energy Campus power plant in Illinois, which has experienced cost overruns and operational problems.

The State Bond Commission considers a plan Thursday by Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District for a $430 million refunding in 2013.

In yet another fiery exchange over efforts to avert the fiscal cliff, a top White House administration official said Wednesday President Obama will veto House Speaker John Boehner's backup plan.

Holders of bankrupt American Airlines' New York City airport debt are weighing a settlement offer that would pave the way for the carrier to assume its lease at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The Internal Revenue Service has notified New Orleans officials that it has closed an audit of more than $70 million of public improvement bonds issued by the city in 2007 with no change to their tax-exempt status.

The Idaho Bond Bank Authority achieved $9.6 million in savings on two bond deals totaling $85.3 million in new money and refundings for 11 cities across the state.

White House officials rejected House Republicans' Plan B fallback proposal to extend tax rate cuts for those making under $1 million, warning it does not go far enough and will not pass muster in the Senate.