Far West

WASHINGTON - Triple-A rated municipal issuers responded swiftly and strongly to being placed on watch for a possible downgrade, saying a federal debt default would not hinder their ability to pay bondholders.

DALLAS - With its first credit rating in hand, the Navajo Nation is preparing to finance a $200 million wind farm in a venture with Edison Mission Energy of Southern California.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Securities and Exchange Commission will issue a wide-ranging staff report about the municipal securities market, including recommendations for legislative change, commissioner Elisse Walter said Friday.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Ron Wyden has introduced a bill to create tax-credit bonds for transportation projects, hoping the program will navigate the political and economic realities that have challenged previous attempts at federal financing tools for state and local governments.

SAN FRANCISCO - California school district bonds are back in the spotlight after an audit found poor oversight of school construction bond money awarded by the state.

Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler said a credit default by the federal government would hurt state bonds.

The assessed value of all property in Los Angeles County increased for the first time in three years.

Legislation has been shelved in California that would have granted cities, counties, and school districts new taxing authority, according to press reports.

Los Angeles officials Monday offered a financing plan for a new football stadium downtown that includes $275 million of tax-exempt bonds.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Monday that requires city officials to disclose their compensation for attending simultaneous or back-to-back meetings. The new law forces a clerk or member of the local legislative body to verbally announce the amount paid to the members.