Washington

State and local groups overwhelmingly praised the Senate passage of the online sales tax bill late Monday night but it still remains uncertain whether it can clear the House, where Republicans view it as a new tax.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development selected of a group of financial advisors, researchers, and consultants to provide technical assistance and advice to distressed municipalities.

The Columbia River Crossing project, a $3.4 billion replacement of the Interstate 5 bridge connecting Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, Wash., appears stalled unless Washington state lawmakers approve $450 million soon.

Washington's Treasurer James McIntire is unhappy with Moody's Investor Service's recent change to how it evaluates state pension liabilities and costs.

The Internal Revenue Service has told a Florida Congressman that the agency will not be providing guidance on political subdivisions that would affect community development districts in the state.

Abstract: Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., ranking minority member on the House Budget Committee, is worried there will be a replay of the 2011 debt limit debacle this year, which compromised the credit rating of the U.S. for the first time in history and halted sales of state and local government series securities for municipal bond issuers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a lawsuit against Victorville, Calif., a city official, the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority, and underwriter Kinsell, Newcomb & DeDios, charging them with defrauding investors by inflating valuations of property in connection with a 2008 bond offering.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced late Thursday that an agreement has been reached on the Marketplace Fairness Act and a final vote will be scheduled for the week of May 6.

For the first time ever, state and local governments' contribution to national gross domestic product is still negative three years after a recession has passed its low point, the Tax Policy Center found in a new report.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has updated its guidance for individual municipal bond investors by urging them to ask brokers questions about issuer disclosures and bond insurer ratings.

An Oregon delegation led by Treasurer Ted Wheeler met with White House officials last week to discuss a new exchange for regional infrastructure projects.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said the $3.4 billion Columbia River Crossing bridge project will die if Washington lawmakers try to kill light-rail from the proposal, according to reports.

Moody's Investors Service issued a report on Wednesday that examined the local governments and school districts that rely on federal employment, procurement, Medicare reimbursement and education grants that would be most affected by sequestration.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., will not seek reelection in 2014.

George Canellos and Andrew Ceresney have been named co-directors of the Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement division — the first time the SEC will has had two leaders of the group.

SIFMA urged a House Ways and Means tax reform working group to leave municipal bonds alone and warned that tax credit bonds as an alternative are not an effective option.

Frank Shafroth on Friday left the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, where he was director of legislative affairs and intergovernmental relationships, to focus on his post at George Mason University.

A team of El Paso, Texas, officials and advisors spent last week traveling to New York and Washington, D.C., to trumpet their planned nearly half a billion dollar bond-financed overhaul of the city's downtown area, which they see as a major game-changer for their region.

Twelve organizations representing the 501(c)(3) bond community submitted comments to a House Ways and Means tax reform working group urging them to protect tax-exempt bond financing.

A report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials details the funding plans of 30 states, including some creative options.