Washington

The House voted Wednesday afternoon to suspend the federal government's borrowing authority until May 19 to avoid a potential default and debt crisis.

Moody's Investors Service placed tobacco settlement revenue bonds of issuers in 17 states and two territories under review with direction uncertain because of legal settlement announced in December. The action affects $20.5 billion of debt.

FINRA ordered fines of more than $6.1 million for municipal market rule violations in disciplinary cases reported in 2012, 6% less than the $6.6 million in fines assessed in the previous year.

Washington will competitively sell a combined $1.2 billion of general obligation bonds Wednesday into a market ready for a big deal during a down month.

Bond-related bills pending in the Virginia House of Delegates would limit toll increases on the Dulles Toll Road and authorize the commonwealth, through authorities, to purchase and control the privately-owned Dulles Greenway.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council has extended the deadline for submitting comments on proposed regulations of money market mutual funds to Feb. 15 from Jan. 18.

The ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee said Tuesday that the Obama administration's proposed 28% cap on tax expenditures should be considered as a source of additional revenue in upcoming fiscal fights, but warned it should be viewed with caution.

The International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association has announced a campaign to elevate the role of tolling in transportation funding, backed by a recent Reason Foundation study that advocates for expanded use of toll financing.

Preserving tax exemption for municipal bonds is a top priority for states, governors said Wednesday.

The Internal Revenue Service's National Taxpayer Advocate is urging Congress to make tax reform its highest priority and to simplify the federal tax code by reassessing the need for every tax expenditure, including the exclusion of tax-exempt municipal bond interest from income.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board reported annual revenue of $39.9 million for the fiscal year ending in September, a 19% gain over last year's $33.5 million, according to the board's annual report, released Tuesday.

The Treasury Department officially suspended the sale of State and Local Government Series securities at noon last Friday, perhaps minimizing the impact on the municipal bond market.

Municipal bond and city interests are spending the final hours before the fiscal cliff deadline watching and waiting, remaining hopeful that lawmakers will agree on a slimmed-down last-minute deal not including any threats to the muni interest tax exemption.

Market participants wonder if the Justice Department will indict more firms and individuals for bid-rigging of bond-related investment and derivatives contracts.

The Internal Revenue Service's tax-exempt bond office plans to continue to invest significant resources in identifying abusive transactions in the municipal bond market in 2013.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie Wednesday appointed Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye earlier this month.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has ordered five firms to pay $4.48 million for unfairly using bond proceeds to pay reimburse themselves for membership fees they paid to the California Public Securities Association, a lobbying group.

The federal government will reach its $16.4 trillion debt limit on Dec. 31 and will begin to suspend issuances of state and local government series securities and take other extraordinary measures to prevent defaulting on U.S. debt, the Treasury Secretary told leaders of Congress Tuesday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday issued an Investor Bulletin designed to help buyers of municipal bonds better understand bonds' credit risks.

Two Democrats from Michigan have introduced legislation that would allow a total of up to $1 billion of recovery zone economic development bonds to be issued over one year for projects in certain specified cities.