Far West

Fitch Ratings has placed $1.7 billion of San Jose Redevelopment Agency tax allocation bonds on rating watch negative.

California’s budget situation became more precarious this week after revenues again fell short of projections in the budget.

Anchorage will drop its lawsuit against the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority, which is proposing a controversial public-private toll bridge project, according to published reports.

WASHINGTON - Public sector pensions should consider disclosing their projected future contributions in order to fare better in the marketplace, a bond lawyers' group said in guidance circulated earlier this month.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee warned Wednesday that "a national infrastructure bank as proposed" in President Obama's jobs bill "is dead on arrival in the House of Representatives."

SAN FRANCISCO - California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed one budget reform bill and vetoed another, while hinting that more change is on the way.

State and local government officials are applauding House Ways and Means Committee members on the eve of an expected vote to approve legislation that would repeal a 3% withholding requirement that they warn would be costly and burdensome.

WASHINGTON - Kristin H. R. Franceschi, a partner at DLA Piper LLP in Baltimore, takes over the helm of the National Association of Bond Lawyers Wednesday amid uncertainty about how the municipal market will be affected by the European financial crisis, the U.S. political environment, and federal regulatory and legislative changes.

Money market funds are supposed to be ultra-safe, but new provisions have popped up in recent years that can make it difficult for holders of variable-rate and short-term securities to interpret and monitor.

WASHINGTON - President Obama's jobs council has made transportation investment one of five priorities for accelerating job growth and improving the country's long-term competitiveness.