Infrastructure

The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet today to vote on a stimulus spending bill that offers less funding than requested by water utilities, municipal housing finance officials, and some senators. The groups are pushing for a revision.

The South Jersey Port Corp. last week sold $25.8 million of debt aided by radio and print advertisements for a sister bond deal as retail buyers held back on the bonds.

President Obama's cabinet grew last week as the Senate confirmed Shaun Donovan as the new secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Ray LaHood as head of the Department of Transportation.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Florida's largest public-private project may be back on after all.

Responding to difficulties accessing the credit market with competitive deals, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey yesterday raised its maximum allowable interest rate on debt issuance to 12% from 8%.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed yesterday that she will bring $358 billion of bond-related and other federal spending provisions to the House floor next week as part of the economic stimulus package.

DALLAS - Southwest Airlines is ready to launch a $519 million redevelopment of its flagship Love Field Airport in Dallas, even though the carrier's growth is "suspended indefinitely," chairman Gary Kelly said yesterday.

CHICAGO - The Regional Transportation Authority is considering taking out a short-term loan if Illinois fails in the next few weeks to catch up on $160 million of matching sales-tax dollars it owes to the agency.

The New York State Thruway Authority yesterday authorized the sale of up to $450 million of tax-exempt bonds on the state's second general highway and bridge trust fund credit. The deal comprises up to $250 million of new money and up to $200 million of refunding.

The House Appropriations Committee yesterday amended its proposal for the spending portion of the economic recovery package, easing a use-it-or-lose-it provision that would have required states to obligate their funds from the stimulus bill within four months.