Far West

Democratic governors and senators yesterday pushed for the Senate to add an amendment to a tax-extenders bill that would provide federal funds to states to help them through their budget crises, with members expected to begin voting on the bill today.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has censured and fined Credit Suisse Securities LLC $10,000 for improper or late reporting of municipal securities trades.

WASHINGTON — House conferees debating financial regulatory reform legislation today are expected to vote on amendments that would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to register and regulate municipal financial advisers, replacing Senate language that would give such regulatory authority to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans have proposed an alternative bill to extend expiring tax-law provisions that would not include Build America Bonds, a major difference from pending legislation, which would extend the BAB program by two years while gradually reducing its subsidy rate to 30% from 35%.

The Treasury Department should issue guidance on the definition of issue price for Build America Bonds and proceed with 10 other regulatory projects on a priority basis, the National Association of Bond Lawyers told department officials in a recent letter.

Sen. Richard G. Lugar, R-Ind., has joined a growing number of senators pushing for climate-change and energy reform by introducing legislation designed to help utilities taper off their use of coal-fired power plants and spur the development of nuclear power.

WASHINGTON — Municipal market regulatory issues will not be studied for up to two years under changes to the base legislation Senate and House conferees are using to reconcile their competing legislative proposals to overhaul financial regulations.

Transportation stakeholders are concerned that the Obama administration has not released a set of reauthorization principles by the time Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said it would.

WASHINGTON — A group of Senate Democrats sent a letter yesterday to Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., urging them to add billions of dollars for transportation-related investments to the draft climate and energy bill the two recently unveiled.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Oregon’s troubles are not over.