Washington DC

GASB is accepting comments through Nov. 2 on its proposal to clarify the definition of a conduit debt obligation.

Key SEC officials responsible for muni rulemaking and enforcement said they don't feel disclosure has been adversely impacted due to fears stoked by the Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Initiative.

Included in the FAA reauthorization package is $1.68 billion in supplemental disaster funding that would help cover the cost of recovery and rebuilding from Hurricane Florence last month.

The Bond Dealers of America has formed a Fixed Income Market Structure Working Group to advise regulators, lawmakers and market participants on structural changes in the fixed income industry and marketplace.

Another wave of states is expected to begin implementation Jan. 1, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Libor changeover isn't officially due for three years, but the change could have big ramifications for munis and is already underway.

Gary Hall, who became the new MSRB chair on Monday, says he has a "reverence" for the muni market.

The Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018 which passed 220 to 191 isn’t expected to become law because the Senate won’t consider it this year.

The Internal Revenue Service has taken no action regarding tax-exempt refunding bonds that were issued for Gettysburg College in 2010, after closing an audit that appears to have been randomly initiated.

SEC and MSRB officials responded to the concerns and frustrations of bond lawyers who were meeting in Chicago.

SIFMA is publishing a new model document that it says should help underwriters avoid regulatory risk.

The two regulatory agencies are working to ensure a seemless transition to another benchmark when Libor is phased out in 2021.

The letter initiated by Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey threatens congressional oversight measures if passenger rail line funds are not released.

The amount of outstanding variable rate demand bonds rose to $142.4 billion in the second quarter of this year, a gain over $142.2 billion in the first quarter and the end of a decade-long decline, Moody’s Investor Service said in a recent report.

Incoming NABL president Dee Wisor wants the group to be more active in Washington.

House Republicans will vote Thursday or Friday on tax reform legislation that would make permanent the $10,000 federal cap on the deduction for state and local taxes and individual income tax rate reductions.

The MSRB is hoping that new guidelines will encourage more conversation between its staff and the broker-dealers and muni advisors it regulates.

One proposal is to use the Chicago water system to fund the Windy City’s public employee pension plans.

MEAG joins two other owners of the Plant Vogtle project voting to move forward; Oglethorpe Power has yet to decide.

Carlos Braceras, elected as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ new president on Monday, said one of his goals will be to persuade Congress to include more funding and policy reforms in surface transportation reauthorization legislation.