Massachusetts

Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman appointed Akash Deep and Philip Shapiro to the new Massachusetts capital debt affordability committee.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted to open the southeastern casino region to commercial developers and left the door open to local Indians.

Massachusetts has adopted more rigorous guidelines for bond refundings that state officials say will enable them to better gauge opportunities for such deals.

The Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust maintained its triple-A rating from all three major credit rating agencies in advance of its $205 million sale.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a $500 million transportation bill that would, among other things, shore up a struggling Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

The Massachusetts House debated an alternative transportation and education financing bill one-fourth the size of what Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed.

The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency appointed five persons to senior management positions, executive director Thomas Gleason announced.

Gov. Deval Patrick's administration, acting on a provision of the 2009 Massachusetts transportation overhaul law, has named a panel to explore P3 deals.

Massachusetts unveiled its tech-friendly www.massbondholder.com web site two days before its $525 million general obligation bond sale.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's far-reaching transportation funding overhaul proposal would restructure the state tax system in an effort to add new transit service and bring older systems up to date.

The University of Massachusetts Building Authority plans a $270 million bond sale to benefit capital projects at the system's five campuses statewide.

Boston plans to sell $176 million of tax-exempt, fixed-rate general obligation bonds, with the new-money component to benefit its capital improvement plan.

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority will come to market with roughly $289 million of general revenue refunding bonds through negotiation.

Moody's Investors Service upgraded Boston University to A1 from A2 on Tuesday.

After falling less than the national bond market in 2011, the Northeast bounced back less than that market in 2012.

Massachusetts' pension fund returned nearly 14% in 2012 and exceeded its benchmark by 84 basis points, its board reported.

Standard & Poor's raised its long-term rating and underlying rating on the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency's bonds issued for Clark University to A-plus from A.

Gov. Deval Patrick proposed raising income taxes in Massachusetts, while lowering the sales tax and dedicating sales tax proceeds to a lockbox public works fund.

Massachusetts officials introduced legislation to overhaul OPEB benefits in what Treasurer Steven Grossman called "a game-changer" for Bay State finances.

Local Massachusetts governments still face significant fiscal strain, but most have managed their challenges well, Moody's said in a special report.