Far West

A day after Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stunned the transportation community by saying it is "highly unlikely" Congress will pass a long-term reauthorization bill to fund highway and transit programs this year, lawmakers and industry lobbyists vowed to keep pushing for such legislation despite considerable obstacles.

Washington lawmakers are weighing a public works spending plan of more than $1 billion that would be funded by revenue bonds backed by hazardous material taxes.

San Francisco-based Catholic Healthcare West has changed its name to Dignity Health to appeal to a broader patient audience.

An audit by Los Angeles Controller Wendy Greuel released Tuesday found that the city failed to pursue all eligible funding opportunities under the American Recovery Reinvestment Act.

In a cart-before-the-horse move, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to apply for $100 million in state funding to pay for a jail construction plan that has yet to be approved, according to published reports.

California legislative leaders are suing the state’s controller over the authority to suspend lawmakers’ pay for late budgets.

Rating agencies are warning that uncertainty about the elimination of California's redevelopment agencies could affect debt payments and lead to a rash of downgrades for outstanding RDA bonds.

LOS ANGELES — Veteran public finance banker L. William Huck and real estate lawyer and developer Todd Anson have formed San Diego-based Common Bond Capital Partners to capitalize on an estimated $5 billion in defaults expected in the land-secured municipal bond market.

WASHINGTON — An industry group has asked regulators to consider municipal bond marketing practices and several muni rules as they develop guidance on the issue price of bonds.

SAN FRANCISCO — Washington will sell $1.5 billion of bonds starting next week as it aims to borrow new money and refund a big chunk of debt to take advantage of the lowest interest rates in decades.