Washington

Longer-term bonds could ease financial pressure for Sound Transit's $54 billion long-range plans.

The Coast Guard endorsed an elevated fixed span to replace the Interstate 5 lift bridge linking Oregon and Washington over the Columbia River.

Gov. Ferguson pushed a wealth tax and infrastructure spending in his State of the State speech, but Republicans cried foul on the spending.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled a supplemental budget with GOP-opposed bond plans, as he preps a rain-soaked and flood-damaged state for more deluges.

The governor announced $2.1 billion for road and bridge maintenance and flood repairs, financed with bonds backed by revenue measures in last year's budget.

Stradling clients "were fortunate to receive proactive contact from SEC staff to reschedule imminent matters leading up to the shutdown," said Kathleen Marcus, a partner at Stradling.

Interactive Brokers said it "promptly addressed the issue that gave rise to the settlement."

The board also said it plans to return more than $23 million in surplus operating reserves to the municipal bond industry.

SIFMA looks forward to "the SEC approving this rate card, and the resulting fee reductions," Leslie Norwood said.

"I think, overwhelmingly, all of our market participants are wanting the same thing and that's really a thriving municipal market," Holiday said.

Top figures in public finance have weighed in on important events at this year's Infrastructure event.

"If the open jacket policy is actually implemented—which we in the defense bar hope is the case—it would be a welcome reform," one attorney said.

Serving on MSRB's Board of Directors over the past four years has been a privilege and an honor.

BDA plans to hold the fly-ins twice a year, CEO Mike Nicholas said.

The SEC-approved amendments will become effective in two stages, the MSRB said.

Sanchez cited affordable housing and "project-based" types of transactions as areas "where we are seeing … lawyers more openly engaging in structuring that might be problematic." 

"As soon as you step back from the table, you may wind up on it," NABL's chief policy officer said.

If the SEC grants exemptive relief to firms seeking to offer a multi-class structure, "we will see more ETFs of actively managed municipal bond strategies."

Ryan's selection may indicate an SEC aiming to resolve more violations by other means than enforcement actions, one lawyer said.

The ultimately unrealized threat to the municipal bond tax-exemption and infrastructure needs were among the drivers of bond sales.