Washington

Moody's Investors Service has placed 256 local government general obligation ratings on review, some for upgrade and some for downgrade, after updating the methodology it uses to evaluate those bonds.

The State of Washington is planning to sell $717 million of general obligation bonds in a three-part competitive offering next week.

Dealer groups are warning the MSRB that a proposal to require an hour of annual muni training for their staffs could actually result in less efficient training and could be confusing, in addition to raising compliance burdens.

Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler said he won't approve the issuance of over $1.5 billion bonds for the Columbia River Crossing project until there is more certainty on toll collections.

Washington State University is planning to sell $60 million of revenue bonds later this month to fund improvements throughout its campus.

President Obama's top economic advisor urges Congress to enter into a "grand bargain on jobs" in exchange for national infrastructure bank.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is seeking applications to fill seven spots that become available Oct. 1.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has identified the suitability of the bonds of distressed municipalities for investors, as well as municipal advisor activity, as areas it will focus on in 2014.

Jefferson County, Ala., is out of municipal bankruptcy but appeals of the bankruptcy plan and criminal prosecutions will keep the county in the spotlight.

Rebecca Harrigal, the new director of the Internal Revenue Service's tax-exempt bond office, said one of her goals is to streamline and improve the closing agreement or settlement process.

Rebecca Harrigal, the new director of the Internal Revenue Service's tax-exempt bond office, said one of her goals is to streamline and improve the closing agreement or settlement process.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement division will be very active in the muni space in 2014, experts said, with emphasis on actions against municipal officials and underwriters.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement division will be very active in the muni space in 2014, experts said, with emphasis on actions against municipal officials and underwriters.

Municipal bond market participants, on guard against proposals to limit or eliminate the tax exemption, doubt 2014 will bring comprehensive tax reform.

Municipal bond market participants, on guard against proposals to limit or eliminate the tax exemption, doubt 2014 will bring comprehensive tax reform.

Municipal advisor regulations are likely to be the focus of intense debate in 2014, as the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board labors to release rules and broker-dealer groups continue to push for interpretations favorable to underwriters.

State budgets seem to be "stabilizing and settling into a period of modest growth," but recovery from the Great Recession is still "a work in progress," a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures found.

Municipal advisor regulations are likely to be the focus of intense debate in 2014, as the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board labors to release rules and broker-dealer groups continue to push for interpretations favorable to underwriters.

Transportation infrastructure funding is at a crossroad in 2014, as lawmakers confront the necessity of finding ways to bolster the rapidly depleting Highway Trust Fund while supporting efforts to ensure the nation's airports and ports maintain a global economic edge.

Transportation infrastructure funding is at a crossroad in 2014, as lawmakers confront the necessity of finding ways to bolster the rapidly depleting Highway Trust Fund while supporting efforts to ensure the nation's airports and ports maintain a global economic edge.